Chapter 60

Watching Gilmore drive Lilian home, Robin and the other students wore jealous smiles.

“I’m so envious that Gilmore gets to spend the night with the girl of my dreams,” one student said.

“When will such good luck come our way?” another asked.

“I think I’ll be a bachelor for life…” a third sighed.

After a while, they said goodbye and drove off. All the students left except Lan. A wave of hatred, jealousy, and anger surged through him. He’d had a crush on Lilian since high school; he’d been hopelessly in love with her. He couldn't believe Gilmore had driven her home. He knew what they would do once they arrived.

He thought, "Lilian is MINE! Nobody but me deserves her!" His eyes glittered with terrifying jealousy and madness. He suddenly remembered Gilmore had won the lottery. "How dare he flaunt his money and steal my girl? It was just two million dollars! What's the big deal?" he thought.

He had to scam Gilmore. He had to ruin him. He grabbed his phone and dialed a number.

The call connected instantly. "Tan, what's wrong?" a cold voice said.

"Dave, meet me at the Milky Way Hotel with your men. I've got a big job," Lan said, his eyes gleaming with viciousness.

"Okay, I'll be right there." The man hung up.

Lan walked to his BMW in the parking lot and got in. He lit a cigarette. The smoke drifted out the window. He’d never smoked around Lilian, wanting to impress her, but he was a heavy smoker; he’d smoked four or five cigarettes in less than twenty minutes.

A black Audi arrived at the Milky Way Hotel and parked beside Lan's BMW. A man with long, curly hair got out. He wore a black leather jacket, exuding an indifferent and distant aura. Behind his black sunglasses, his face was cold. He got into Lan's car and sat in the passenger seat, taking a cigarette from the dashboard and lighting it. He inhaled deeply and exhaled a plume of smoke.

"Lan, what's the big job?" he asked through the smoke.

"Kill a man for me, and all the money is yours," Lan said, staring intently at the man.

The man looked at him and said, after a moment, "I appreciate your father spending a lot of money on a lawyer to get me out of prison a year early. But I'll be back there for life if I do this for you."

"Two million dollars. Do it or not?" Lan offered directly.

The man was Dave Thompson, Lan's thirty-year-old cousin. He'd once dominated the town's underworld, known for his ruthlessness. He'd accidentally killed someone and been sentenced to eleven years. Lan's father had hired an expensive lawyer to secure his early release less than a month ago. Lan's father owned numerous factories (bars, brick factories, and sand factories) in Elmwood, and he employed Dave. He valued Dave so much he'd spent a fortune on his legal defense.

Dave knew the serious consequences of killing someone, especially now. If not for his gratitude to Lan's father, he wouldn't be having this conversation. He was surprised by the two-million-dollar offer.

"I know your father's super-rich, but I doubt you have that kind of money. If you're done, I'm going home," Dave sneered, starting to get out of the car.

"It's not my money, but the man I want you to kill has plenty. Can't you do me this one favor after everything my father's done for you?" Lan sneered.

Dave stared sharply at him, a furrow appearing between his brows. His gratitude to Lan's father made him sit back. "Tell me about this person and the money."

It took Lan about five minutes to explain everything: how Gilmore had stolen his woman, won the lottery, and bought a luxury car.

His eyes flashed with hatred. "How dare he take my woman and humiliate me in front of everyone? Don't you think I deserve revenge?"

Dave said nothing. If Lan's story was true, Gilmore deserved a lesson. The humiliation of having his woman taken in public was intolerable. But Dave was more interested in Gilmore's lottery winnings. He couldn't believe such luck had fallen on a poor man. He vacillated. Money was all he cared about; he'd even sacrifice his life for it. It was money that had led him to kill and spend ten years in prison. Robbing a poor man was less risky than a wealthy one. He could barely control his greed.

"Tan, I'll avenge this insult, but I won't kill him. I'll cripple him," Dave said, his eyes fierce. He'd been imprisoned for ten years and didn't want to die there or be executed. He wanted money, not to kill.

Lan desperately wanted Gilmore gone, but couldn't force Dave to kill him. Crippling him would be satisfying enough; Lilian would never be with him then.

"Okay, do it."

"Where is he?"

"Number 28, Circus Street. Lilian's villa."

"Let's go."

After a brief discussion, Dave left Lan's car and got into the black Audi. A strong man sat in the driver's seat, with three burly men in the back.

"Mr. Thompson, where to?" the driver asked.

"Number 28, Circus Street."

They left the Milky Way Hotel. After Dave left, Lan followed slowly.

(The final promotional sentence should be removed as it's out of place in the cleaned-up text.)