"Damn it, James!" Megan exclaimed. "How did Grandpa get tricked? Why would he believe him? Did Grandpa really think he could celebrate his birthday at the House of Royals?"

Lex's face flushed crimson with embarrassment. "James assured me I could hold my birthday celebration there and even access the venue in advance," he said. "Are you sure about this? Do you know who authorized my party?" He straightened and scolded the security guards. "Get lost!"

The guards started to chase him. "Well, well, what have we here?"

A man in a suit and tie approached, arm around a striking woman.

"Mr. Xenos," the guards murmured respectfully.

The man, Zack Xenos, was the manager of Goodview Villa District and the guards' boss. He was well-connected and a member of the Xenos family.

"Mr. Xenos, this is Lex Callahan. He claimed he'd hold his birthday party at the House of Royals. I almost laughed," one guard explained.

"Oh? The Callahans?" Xenos glanced at Lex and sneered. "You want to hold your birthday at the House of Royals? Who gave you permission?"

Lex's face burned. "I-I…"

"Grandpa, let's go," Tommy said, pulling Lex toward their car. The rest of the family followed.

"Yo, Tommy. Fancy meeting you here," a condescending voice drawled.

It was Lucy Quinn, the attractive woman with Zack. She wore a glamorous dress and carried a designer bag.

Tommy's expression changed. "Lucy Quinn? My ex-girlfriend?"

Lucy smirked. "The Callahans faking wealth? This is my husband, Zack Xenos. You've heard of the Xenos family, right? They're part of the Five Provinces Business Alliance, which built Goodview Villa District. These villas cost hundreds of millions of dollars—not something you buy just because you have money. Only those on the level of the Great Four of Cansington can afford them. The Xenos family owns two villas here. How dare the Callahans boast about celebrating a birthday in the most luxurious villa in the district?"

Lucy looked at Tommy with disdain. He'd dumped her for being poor. Now, she had married into immense wealth.

"Thanks for not marrying me, Tommy," she said. "Because of you, I married into the Xenos family. Any Xenos subsidiary is worth more than the entire Callahan business."

Tommy's face darkened, not with anger, but with humiliation. He knew the Xenos family's power; as members of the Five Provinces Business Alliance, they dwarfed even the Great Four of Cansington.

"Mr. Xenos," Brody, smiling, extended a hand. "I'm Brody Coleman, deputy captain of the specialized police unit in North Cansington."

Zack looked at him indifferently. "Who are you? The Colemans? I don't know you."

Brody withdrew his hand, embarrassed. The Colemans were immensely wealthy, yet he was dismissed by a core member of the Five Provinces Business Alliance.

"Isn't this your job?" Zack glared at the security guards. "How did you let unauthorized people in? Beat them and throw them out!"

The guards became aggressive, punching and kicking the Callahans, even Brody, leaving him with footprints on his face.