Chapter 152: A Rented Car

The dreaded moment arrived, immediately followed by excuses and complaints.

“I… I only have a thousand,” one person stammered.

“I don’t have any money! I haven’t even paid my bills!” another exclaimed.

“I have ten thousand, but that’s nowhere near enough!” a third chimed in.

They could barely scrape together eighty thousand—a fraction of the total bill. While the group scrambled, Jared sat comfortably on a lobby couch, being served refreshments by the staff.

The cashier, growing impatient, announced into her walkie-talkie, “Security department, we have a situation at the payment counter. Customers are unable to pay their bill.”

Lincoln and the others jumped at the announcement. Within seconds, over ten armed security guards surrounded them. Their knees wobbled; they had never been in such a terrifying situation. All eyes turned to Lincoln—their only hope of escape.

However, Lincoln’s face paled at the guards’ menacing expressions.

“Lincoln, you arrived in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, right? Why don’t you leave it as collateral?” someone suggested.

“Yes! Leave your car. Once you get the money, you can come back and pay,” another added.

“Exactly! Unlike you, Lincoln, we aren’t rich. A million is nothing to you!” The others showered Lincoln with praise, hoping to leverage his perceived wealth.

Embarrassment flushed Lincoln’s face. “The car… it’s rented. I have to return it after dinner. I can’t leave it here.”

His words stunned everyone. Michelle stared, aghast. The group felt foolish for not believing Jared’s earlier statement about the rented car. Panic set in; if Lincoln was a fraud, they were responsible for the entire bill.

“Since none of you can pay, you’ll be detained!” the cashier declared, annoyed. “Guards, take them to the office. The manager will handle this. They’re disrupting the establishment!”

The guards forcibly dragged them away. Suddenly, Lincoln shouted, “I… I’ll pay my share. Let me go! You can keep the others!” He abandoned his companions to save himself.

Everyone was stunned. Michelle grabbed his hand, pleading, “H-How about me, Lincoln? Aren’t you going to pay for me?”

“Get lost! I don’t have that much money!” Lincoln shoved her away aggressively. “I have to get out of here! I might get beaten up!”

Michelle was speechless. She never imagined Lincoln to be so heartless.

“No. Unless the entire bill is paid, no one leaves,” the cashier coldly refused Lincoln’s offer.

Lincoln was shocked. They were all doomed unless they could pay over a million.

“Why did you act so high and mighty when you’re just broke? How ridiculous!”

“It’s all your fault! Why did you order brandy if you’re penniless?”

“Over a million! What are we going to do now?”

Anger erupted, with everyone blaming Lincoln and Michelle.

“Jared, please have mercy! Help me, and I’ll pay you back!” Yvonne begged Jared.