Chapter 4 Château Lafite Rothschild

Beep!

Dominik swiped open the gate of the villa on Skytop Hill. Perched at the summit, the villa known as Skytop Mansion commanded the hilltop.

"This guy really knows how to live well. Since he handed me this villa, I'll take it easy on him later," Dominik mused, a smile playing on his lips.

Archie Reid, once known as the Night Lord, held unmatched respect in the underground world of Sruburgh. Following his military career, he had assembled a formidable team and quietly protected the nation.

Tragically, an accident drove Archie to madness. He slaughtered his enemies and tragically turned on his allies. In the end, Sruburgh's top warrior subdued the deranged Archie, confining him to Phantom Prison.

Revered and pitied, Archie became a legend, a myth enveloped in sorrow.

Now, Dominik stood as the new proprietor of the enigmatic and costly Skytop Mansion, valued at two billion.

"Hey, Dominik, Ruby really wasn't thinking. She left you stranded at City Hall and returned! Don't worry. I've given her an earful. Dinner's nearly ready. Send me your address; I'll send a driver to pick you up." Aydan's voice came through just as Dominik hadn't finished touring his new home, bringing a slight warmth to his heart.

A cold snort from Ruby echoed faintly in the background.

Choosing independence, Dominik opted not to have Aydan send a driver. He picked the most understated car in the garage, a Volkswagen Phaeton, and drove himself to the Harper residence.

The Phaeton was indeed discreet. To the untrained eye, it appeared no more than a common Passat, worth around 30 grand.

As Sylvia pulled up at the entrance of Skytop Villa Area, she spotted the Phaeton descending from the hill and speeding past.

"Hmm? Is that him?" Sylvia murmured, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Who might that be, Miss Hewitt?" inquired Trudy, glancing over.

Pausing, Sylvia replied, "I thought I saw Dominik coming down from Skytop Hill..."

Trudy chuckled, shaking her head dismissively. "Miss Hewitt, you were injured arresting the Dreadlord; it must be affecting your sight. Dominik, a mere second-tier prison guard, living in Skytop Mansion? You yourself tried to buy it once and couldn't. Perhaps the stress and guilt from the broken engagement are blurring your vision."

After hearing Trudy's explanation, Sylvia couldn't help but smile and nod in agreement. It did seem far-fetched. Dominik was just a lowly second-tier prison guard; how could he possibly afford to live in the grand Skytop Mansion?

Even with her rank as a major general, she had not managed to acquire this villa.

Soon, Dominik arrived and sat at the Harper family's dinner table when he noticed a dish of prawns. The aroma of alcohol filled the air, and the prawns, soaked in golden-yellow wine, looked enticing.

Dominik was taken aback. Could it be that the two bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild he had sent were used to cook these prawns?

"Look at this wine. It's yellow when poured out, obviously fake and inferior! These prawns, I guess, can't be eaten," Phyllis declared indignantly. "The son-in-law you picked is really something. He used fake alcohol to entertain us on his first visit."

Ruby also looked on disdainfully and suggested, "Better pour it away to avoid stomach upset."

Aydan, somewhat embarrassed, tried to defend Dominik. "Dominik definitely wouldn't do something like this. Perhaps he was deceived by someone. We'll keep the dish. If no one else wants it, I'll eat it."

Phyllis frowned, her worry evident. "Jimmie will be here soon. Is it really appropriate to serve this to him?"

As if on cue, laughter filled the room as a man about Aydan's age walked in.

"Dominik, meet my old friend-Jimmie Hudson! If he's in a good mood, he might gift you a couple of his paintings, and you'll be rich," Aydan announced with a broad smile.

Jimmie, a renowned artist and a prominent figure in Sruburgh, greeted everyone warmly.

As Phyllis was about to remove the prawns, Jimmie intervened. "Wait! Phyllis, I remember liquor-saturated prawns are your specialty. Aren't you sharing them with me?"

Trying to salvage the situation, Phyllis explained with a forced smile, "Jimmie, don't take it the wrong way! The wine used for these prawns today isn't right-it's fake alcohol sent by Aydan's son-in-law. I'm worried it might upset our stomachs..."

Suddenly serious, Jimmie pressed the dish back onto the table.

"Wait, you said this is fake alcohol?" He defied etiquette by grabbing a shrimp with his fork and tasting it.

Phyllis quickly said, "Jimmie, spit it out at once... What if you fall ill? If you'd like, I can whip up another dish!"

But Jimmie seemed to savor the taste. "Rich aroma, silky smoothness, lingering aftertaste... This is exceptional wine. Surely, it's the Château Lafite Rothschild!"

The room fell silent, the Harper family members stunned.

Jimmie, visibly upset, exclaimed, "What a waste, what a waste! Aydan, what have you done? Weren't you anxious about the twenty-million-dollar debt owed by the Umbra Alliance? How could you squander the Château Lafite Rothschild like this?" His beard quivered with every furious stomp.

Phyllis gasped. "You mean the wine is authentic? Jimmie, could you be mistaken?"

"What a joke! How could I be mistaken? The last time I tasted this wine was three years ago at an official literary seminar in Frutshire. The flavor was unforgettable! I can't believe you used Château Lafite Rothschild like this... Oh, it truly pains my heart! If you don't want it, I'll gladly take it off your hands!"

Jimmie's dismay was palpable as he glared at them; using such a fine wine for liquor-saturated prawns seemed like a sheer waste, regardless of their wealth!

Phyllis and Ruby stood embarrassed, at a loss for words.

"How could he, just a prison guard, possibly come by such a precious item? He must have secretly taken it from the Gilbert family when he was expelled... Humph!" Ruby complained in her heart disdainfully yet couldn't help but think it was wasteful, too.

Aydan chuckled and said to his wife and daughter, "I told you not to judge so harshly. How could Dominik possibly send fake alcohol to deceive us?"

Jimmie simply shook his head, muttering, "What a pity, what a pity..."

After several rounds of drinks, Aydan offered Dominik a position at the Harper Group.

Dominik politely declined.

Ruby sneered at this. He was just an unknown prison guard, yet he still acted aloof, clinging to his meager pride. How absurd!

Later that evening, Ruby had a lengthy video call with her close friend Olivia Sutton, pouring out her frustrations about the day's events.

Olivia was equally frustrated. "He must be delusional. How can a mere prison guard be a match for you? Mr. Warren has been chasing you for ages! Don't worry, Ruby. Tomorrow, I'll make sure Dominik embarrasses himself. Once he loses face, he won't dare bother you again."