Chapter 145: An Imitation Watch

“Whoa! Listen to him bragging! I’ve never heard anyone have a coughing fit after drinking cheap wine!” “Why are you acting so high and mighty, ex-convict? You’ve probably never even tasted Sauvignon Blanc!” “I can’t stand listening to him anymore! It’s hurting my ears!”

Jared’s comment ignited an uproar.

Michelle snickered disdainfully. “Look at your boyfriend, Hilda! What a weirdo! Never mind that he’s poor—he acts like he’s rich!”

Hilda ignored her; she, too, was bewildered by Jared’s behavior.

“Jared, if I’m not mistaken, you drive a Ford, right? These few bottles of wine might buy your car. Why the charade?” Lincoln smirked.

Only after Lincoln’s remark did the others notice a Ford key at Jared’s waistband.

“I support local products. I have a Bentley, but I don’t like to drive it,” Jared replied mildly. “I can drive Tommy’s Bentley anytime. Besides, the entire Templar Regiment is mine—a car is nothing!”

Pfft!

Lincoln, mid-sip of water, spurted it out. “Hahaha! In all my years, I’ve never seen such calm, unruffled self-promotion! You have a Bentley? I bet you’ve never even seen one!”

Lincoln doubled over, snorting with laughter. Everyone else joined in, convulsing with mirth; tears streamed down some faces.

“I’m nothing compared to you,” Jared countered with a cold chuckle. “I’ve never seen someone so calm and unruffled after swindling a woman and then offering to treat everyone to a meal!”

Lincoln’s smile vanished, replaced by a grim expression. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand!” His eyes narrowed.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You know better than I whether you swindled anyone!” Jared met his gaze unflinchingly.

Their eyes locked; tension filled the private room.

“What a load of crap! Lincoln’s watch alone costs hundreds of thousands! How could he swindle anyone?” Michelle shouted at Jared. She considered Lincoln an ideal man—talented and wealthy. The idea of him conning someone was absurd.

“Exactly! You couldn’t afford his watch even if you saved your entire life! Stop slandering him!” Yvonne agreed.

No one believed Jared.

“It’s just an imitation,” Jared snorted, having sensed the watch’s falsity upon entering the room. A simple use of spiritual energy revealed its true nature.

An imitation watch?

All eyes turned to Lincoln. Even Hilda, comforting Yolanda, glanced at the gold watch.

Panic flickered across Lincoln’s face. He exploded. “Nonsense! I got this from Sumanthova! Have you ever seen a gold watch? How dare you call it an imitation?!”

“Jared, even if you envy Lincoln, how could you say his watch is fake? It’s worth hundreds of thousands! He has plenty of money—why would he wear a fake? He drives a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Are you going to say that’s fake too?” Michelle challenged.

Others chimed in: “Considering his status, why would he wear a fake?” “I heard he was loaded in college. He wouldn't wear a knock-off!” “I pity you, but you should work hard! You can’t just say someone’s wearing a fake because you don’t have one! What kind of mentality is that?”

Following Michelle’s outburst, everyone condemned Jared.

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