The Secretly Rich Man

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 401

“Huh? What’s going on, here?”

Staying out of the way by the side of the road, Leila and the others watched what was happening in shock.

A veritable fleet of expensive cars lined outside the karaoke bar. A throng of people swarmed about the place.

“Something must have happened! Gosh… could it be that rascal Gerald’s gotten in over his head?” Douglas wondered aloud.

“Must be. I mean, who else in Serene County could stir up this much of a fuss? I should’ve known better than to bring that guy here, no matter what anyone said. Now look at this mess: The moment something major goes down, we’re gonna get dragged into it—Mr Lourdes knows very well he’s with us!” The guys whispered amongst themselves, their outlook seemed bleak.

Cindy had gone pale, hearing their words. If what they said was true, then Gerald’s life might be in extreme danger!

No, she had to go in and see for herself. If things were really that bad, she’d call the cops! Thinking thusly, Cindy threw open the car door and ran for the karaoke bar.

Gerald had left a good impression on Cindy. They’d only just met, so it was still too soon to talk about any real feelings between them… but she just felt that he was a really nice guy, down-to-earth. What’s more, in order to save everybody, he’d taken the whole thing onto himself.

Abandoning him without a second thought, like Leila and the others had done… that was something Cindy simply couldn’t do. She couldn’t just sit this one out.

“Cindy, are you crazy? Get back here!” Leila had gotten out of the car as well, shrieking hysterically.

Cindy was her best friend. Leila couldn’t allow her to do this. Seized by terror, she chased after her, desperate to stop her.

As for Douglas and the rest, they remained right there inside the car, just smoking and keeping watch from afar.

“Holy hell, it’s a bloody mess in there! I don’t know who Mr Lourdes pissed off, but he’s been beaten to a pulp!”

“Anyone else wants to go next? Oh, the horror… but what a twist! Mr Lourdes thought he was the biggest cheese around—never imagined he’d bump into someone even more powerful than him… ahahaha!”

Some young men and women passed by in front of Cindy, chattering noisily about what had happened. Overhearing them, first she was shocked by the news of Mr Lourdes’ tragedy…

But what about Gerald?

Anxiously, Cindy stopped them to ask about the situation within. This allowed Leila to catch up.

Aroused by the sight of these two ravishing beauties, the guys scrambled to recount what had happened back at the bar.

“Hey, babes… I guess you weren’t there, so you wouldn’t know—but of course you’ve heard of Mr Louie Lourdes, the richest kid in all Serene County!” One of the guys was so excited he was sputtering. “Just now, a whole gang of black-clad bodyguards beat him within an inch of his life! Totally brutal, and I hear they’re from Mayberry City! Just take a look at all these cars they brought here! Incredible!”

The other guys were eager to contribute as well:

“As for Louie, when he started shouting for someone to get Big Dolph over here, I thought the tables had turned, you know? I was expecting Louie would clean all their clocks out! But when Big Dolph arrived, he was suddenly bowing and scraping for those two, offering them smokes and drinks… Mr Lourdes’ face was a nasty sight, then!”

“The other big players in the room all knew whose side to take, then!”

“But I’m not asking about Louie Lourdes!” Cindy wailed. “I’m asking if there was some other young man who also got hurt! Did Louie… hack up some other guy in there?”

“Huh? Some other guy? Well, Louie and someone he called ‘Uncle’ caught a bloody good thrashing… but no, no one else was hurt… Oh! Louie’s own bodyguards were knocked out cold instantly—but I wouldn’t have called any of them a ‘young man’…”

“How could this be? What about Gerald? Is there any possibility you might have made a mistake?” Leila blurted out in disbelief. “Are you absolutely sure the one who got roughed up was Louie Lourdes?”

“Of course! We’ve all seen his picture before!” Hooting and jeering, the group wandered off.

“Does this mean… Gerald’s alright?” A massive weight in Cindy’s heart was suddenly eased—but then she added, “But why would all these wealthy people suddenly turn on Louie? Leila… do you think Gerald might have summoned them to his aid?”

Thinking back, she’d just remembered how, as Gerald was clearing the way for them to escape, he’d also said something about calling his own people to come deal with Louie.

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 402

He’d meant summoning people to help fight Louie Lourdes.

At that time, Cindy hadn’t paid much thought about it. She’d assumed Gerald was just stalling for time.

But right here right now, were a whole horde of people whom, sure enough, had attacked and vanquished Louie.

What Cindy was suggesting sent a tremor through Leila’s entire body.

“Impossible! That guy? I don’t know much about him, but isn’t he just some penniless loser? How could he have so many rich and powerful friends? Don’t you fall for his nonsense, Cindy!”

Heaven’s sake! If it turned out to be true… Leila might as well just ram her head against the nearest wall.

But no, haha, it was simply not possible!

Leila turned to gesture for everyone back in the car to come over and join them, where she then shared with them what had been learned. Everyone was gobsmacked by the news that Louie had been wiped out clean. They gazed with admiration at the magnificent cars lining up along the street outside the karaoke bar.

“Look! Isn’t that Gerald?” Glancing around, Leila suddenly spotted him in the Western restaurant next door, dining at the window seat.

For a moment, she doubted her own eyes.

“It can’t be… no, but it really is him!” Douglas was every bit as stupefied.

Everyone had been convinced that Gerald was dead meat. Instead, he was in a fine restaurant nearby, sitting at their premier table?

This… how… what…

“Gerald’s okay after all! Leila, maybe he was really telling the truth! Maybe all these guys really did come here to back him up! Maybe Gerald really is friends with lots of rich people!” Cindy seemed delighted by this.

“No way, no way! I refuse to believe it!” Leila was stamping her feet in agitation. “Douglas, we’re going over there to get to the bottom of this. Anyway, can you believe that tramp can afford that class of fine dining?”

Someone she held so much contempt for, turned out to be someone so amazing? That would be a right slap to the face!

“Right! Let’s get over there! You, send the drunk ones home first!” Douglas issued this command to one of the boys, ignoring the fact that he wasn’t completely sober himself.

Earlier, quite a few of the guys had downed an entire bottle. Now the alcohol was running its course, and some were no longer able to stay on their feet.

Douglas himself had quite a high tolerance—and anyway, he couldn’t bear to walk away from such a momentous affair, so he would just grit his teeth and bear it.

Leila and Cindy were by his side as he walked straight into that restaurant.

In the grip of a terrible rage, Leila stormed across the floor. “Gerald, do my eyes deceive me? So it really is you… Huh! You came into a place like this, but ordered nothing, just sitting here… Don’t tell me you just slipped out from there, and just needed some place to sit down?”

She’d been a little worried—worried that Gerald might actually turn out to be someone of wealth and influence. However, now that she was standing at his table, she was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Most likely, he’d only ducked in here to find shelter.

“Leila, perhaps you’re not aware of how exclusive this restaurant is. It’s considered a first-class establishment, with their main branch based in Mayberry. Common folk generally don’t dare to trespass in here—so you could hardly have found a safer hiding place, Gerald! Hahaha!” Douglas added his own mocking comments to the mix.

Gerald just sat there mutely.

Back in that karaoke room, when his bodyguards were giving it to Louie and his grunts, Gerald had watched for a while, but then lost interest.

It was enough just to teach that fool a lesson. There was no reason for him to hang around. That sort of thing wasn’t his style.

Anyway, he hadn’t had much to eat for lunch earlier, so by now he was starving, and had come out looking for a bite to eat.

But after he’d placed his order, and was taking a moment to contemplate how he’d handle things from here on out…

… Unexpectedly, Leila and company had come charging back into the fray.

What was this? Hadn’t he gotten rid of them already? Gerald couldn’t even begin to imagine how he’d explain himself now.

At the corner of his eye, he saw six restaurant staff form into a line, trays of food in their hands. And then, they began making their way towards Gerald…

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 403

“Excuse me, miss!” The waitress in the lead smiled at Leila, who stared with mouth gaping wide as a feast was laid out upon the table before Gerald.

“Huh? What?” Leila stuttered for a moment, then exclaimed, “Hey, hey, hey! There must be some mistake—you’ve got the wrong table!”

Anyone could tell that it was a sumptuous meal worth a small fortune—at least five hundred dollars or more—and it was meant for Gerald?

Leila had always held him in contempt as a man with nothing to his name. One time, she’d let slip that their fathers had been arranging for them to be married, and it had made her a complete laughing stock.

“Hey, Leila! Somewhere on a far away farm, your fiancé’s waiting for you!” She could still see those mocking grins vividly at the back of her mind.

It had been the greatest source of misery in her life. She never spoke of it, but it was always on her mind. As a symbol of her humiliation, she utterly despised Gerald Crawford.

And yet, Gerald was eating so well right now…

“How could there be any mistake? Mr Crawford here ordered our most expensive menu, prepared by the hand of a master chef from France! It costs a thousand dollars in total!” The waitress offered her another sunny smile, then bowed to Gerald, and left him to his meal.

“What? One thousand dollars!” Leila stood stunned. Never had she ever indulged in such luxury!

“Gerald, what are you up to? No one’s poorer than you, and yet you’re burning money like nobody’s business… French cuisine? Are you out of your mind? Have you never thought about taking that one thousand bucks and doing something useful with it?” Leila harangued him acidly.

“That’s right, that’s right,” Douglas joined in. “The poor sure like to act like they’ve got money to spend! Who am I, and who are you? My handphone costs as much as this meal you’re eating here! Did what happened just now scare the wits out of you?”

Truth be told, here in Serene County, a five-hundred-dollar smartphone was a substantial status symbol—but Douglas was one step up: With his thousand-dollar phone, it showed that he was really somebody.

But now, it was nothing more than the price of one meal for Gerald. No one would take this without comment.

“Gerald, it’s not that we’re trying to make you feel bad… But wouldn’t it be better to take this money and buy yourself some nice clothes, or a decent phone, or maybe some kind of makeover… Instead, you’re just… urgh!” Leila shook her head at him in disgust.

Compared to Douglas, whether in terms of manners or intellect, Gerald fell far short.

Bzzt! Gerald’s phone was vibrating. He pulled it out for a quick glance. It was an unknown number calling.

eyes as wide as

take the call. Terminating the connection, he tried

day, she was still Uncle Jung’s daughter, and he shouldn’t cause her

by a sudden frenzy, Leila snatched

model to hit the market, four thousand and five hundred dollars apiece. This is your

that from a classmate! Just for appearances, you know!” Gerald

eyes at him. “Don’t you think

was no longer

he be… Did this mean all those guys back there had truly

alright… it’s just a phone. You guys were only drinking back there—you haven’t had anything to eat… How about I treat you all to some French

that sounds good! I’m famished—and I’ve never had a thousand-dollar French banquet before! Hahaha! This will

Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

Cindy giggled.

“Of course!”

you came here to ask about? And, and…

Gosh, in my excitement I quite forgot. Gerald, tell us. How are you still in one piece? And are all those

how am I still in one piece?” Gerald

Leila

I remember now. Just as I was about to come to blows with Louie, the patrons from next door burst into the room, and maybe

was so mad that words failed

away? Like, out of the karaoke bar… and into the

forget it! She was too angry now,

too? It’ll be my treat,

that had been served, Leila felt extraordinarily tempted. All girls are gluttons, aren’t

way things were between Gerald and her, how could

What about her pride?

to eat, we’d order something ourselves!” Folding her arms, Leila glanced

how she wanted

up the tab for karaoke earlier, to the tune of a whopping one thousand and two hundred dollars. There was no way he

family held influence—but not so

It’s just… I’ve had too much to

could also tell that it

wretchedly. Douglas felt

they turned to go, they ended up knocking over a vase of flowers on

a crash, the vase shattered on

a waitress hurried into

vase…” she began in a

bunch of lousy flowers, barely worth looking at. I’ll pay for them, alright? Here, one hundred. Is that

How’s that for cool?

woman. “Leila, let’s get out of

all of a sudden, Leila nodded

“Hold a moment, sir!”

“What’s the matter?”

than a hundred dollars, it’s worth a thousand five hundred!” The waitress declared with a

the spot. “What?

Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible

thousand and five

a hundred bucks, and then swagger out of there. He’d never expected that bunch of flowers to be worth so

called his father over to

that wouldn’t do. This restaurant chain was owned by a powerful figure over at Mayberry.

neither did he have a thousand five hundred on him

what? No big deal!” Leila sneered. She was this close to slapping

matter what, she had to

He’d definitely be able

close to whisper to her, “I’ve only got a few hundred left

left, just like her. That way, they’d be able to pool their money and fumble their way out of this mess somehow… but he barely had any cash on

Now, this was embarrassing…

them whispering furtively amongst themselves, and realized that Douglas was probably broke. “Hey, waitress! Add it to my bill!

an absolutely hideous expression on her face right

to see Leila caught in such a plight. Anyway, when they’d encountered each other again earlier, he’d mentioned something about counting on him in case of any trouble—that was why

your money! He’s got friends, you know?” Leila

thousand five on short notice? What’s more, his dad would hear about it, sooner or later… and then

way out. He’d be

“Just cover for me

problem—but you’ll have to write

pen and paper for

Douglas nevertheless wrote

back that hundred-dollar bill on the side table, and stuffed

to get back at Gerald a little. “Hmph! Leila, it would have been silly not to take advantage of that fool, back there! I’ve been disgraced in front of him

didn’t even know who he was anymore. Was this really the man she’d taken as

piece

never wanted for money herself. As such, she’d decided that she needn’t find a boyfriend who was totally loaded—as long as he could treat her to a little something

well-connected, and had an amazing job, so he’d been her preferred choice. After all,

in that restaurant, Leila’s

who could give her a little treat, once in a while? Forget that! Without money, they wouldn’t even be able to get anything

wanted to be at that table with Gerald right

to pay for a broken vase of

out, and now he was plotting

her type of guy? Leila

come on! I’ll drive you

Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel

go on without me. I’ll find my own ride home!” With that, she hailed a passing cab, and departed—leaving Douglas dumbfounded by the side

what was wrong—and he

finished their meal together, and exchanged their contact numbers. Then

door to have a look. Everyone had left,

to be such an eventful day. He was

staying. The moment he stepped into his room, his phone rang again. It was that unknown caller who’d tried to reach him while he was at the

could it be? Curious,

was a lovely, feminine voice. Gerald was taken aback when he recognized who was

was you calling?”

a month since term break started. Gerald had spent most of this time in the hospital looking after Mr Winters. Perhaps because of what had

it was just as well. And so, they’d severed contact with each

expecting to

my room. So what am I to make of you not contacting me all this while? Are

I’m just shocked that you called me!” Gerald responded

wrong with me

not some rich guy… just a poor

allow you to talk about

true! Most girls say

girls. I’ve never looked down on you—if anything, I think more of you than all those rich brats. I know you were only treating me that way for the sake of your girlfriend. If not for

For lack of anything better

Giya, gorgeous and charismatic, with a heart of gold… Any man would be lucky to have her as their

he admired Giya… it

you

then… No, no reason! Hang up, won’t you?” Giya’s

Doot… doot… doot…

A

You’re killing me, here! Look,

“What is it?”

to stay for a few days. Is that

Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

was that?” Gerald

every day, and on that note: He

of the world was cool

way, forget

thought someone would be willing to help me, but I get it now…” Giya’s voice was barely more

happened over

off to crash

As though Gerald thought that highly of himself…

suddenly announced, “I’m

had been something odd in her tone. Changing tack, he instead tried, “That’s wonderful news! Who’s the

family to help us get through this. Meanwhile, Yacob’s been after my hand, and when his dad brought up the subject of us getting married… well, Yacob’s dad helped save my mom, too—so

I’d even consider marriage until I was thirty! But here I am, not even finished with university yet, and already engaged to somebody—somebody I don’t like!

he’ll definitely be able to find me through them—that’s why I came to you, but you’re leaving me out to dry!” Somewhere

he more or less understood, now. Indeed, it was a heavy burden for anyone to have to bear. Furthermore, it wasn’t as though her predicament had nothing at all to

been Gerald. He’d kept quiet about that, in order to minimize his involvement with

had been holding it over Giya’s family. In that sense, it was

So, now what?

was seeking asylum somewhere—and that, by running away from home, she hoped to apply pressure upon her father. That was why she’d sought

falling into the clutches of a guy like Yacob, it

how would

knew that he’d never forgive himself for abandoning Giya now. He’d planted these seeds himself—now he had to

can come stay with me,” Gerald said, “But I’m not at my family home—I’m staying in the city. Also… Once this matter has been

to him to resolve the problem. The solution was simple: He’d reveal

be okay to let Giya come over, because he had

You’re the best! Don’t worry, I’m only doing this

call ended, Gerald had some thoughts about

too late for regrets—he’d

he was renting a suite here, which was convenient for having guests over—besides taking care of Mr Winters, he also had to meet with Zack Lyle and the others regularly. It

with Giya, and let

get her. If not because he’d