Stallion sauntered before the front counter as boldly as if he was the owner of the restaurant. He picked up a piece of meat that was still simmering on the grill and popped it straight into his mouth. He nearly burnt his tongue, however. Incensed by the pain, Stallion swept the remaining meat off the grill with his hand and onto the floor. He then stomped on them furiously, leaving bits of smashed meat littered over the floor.

Larry watched Stallion’s crude show of bravado helplessly. His mind was desperately thinking of the money he carried in his fanny pack. It was money Larry had set aside to pay for Candace’s medical bills, along with the household’s daily expenses. Larry could not bear to deliver his money into the hands of these ruffians.

“You clearly have money! You’re just unwilling to hand it over! All of you, take it from him! It’s in his fanny pack,” Stallion ordered, upset that Larry was not showing Stallion the respect that Stallion thought he deserved. He waved at his lackeys, gesturing for them to charge forward and snatch Larry’s pack.

“Have mercy on me, please! Give me another few days,” Candace pleaded. “This money is for my children’s school fees and for our daily necessities. I’m begging you!”

Alarmed by Stallion’s threats, Candace, who had been standing by Larry’s side, stepped forward, tears streaming down her wan face as she implored the youths pitifully.

As she spoke, Candace had walked over to Stallion and knelt before him in her desperation.

“I’ll pay the money on their behalf,” a clear voice rang out.

“Mr. Simpson!” Elena cried out. She could tell that these youths were scoundrels. If Casper intervened, there was no way Elena could vouch for his safety.

The night was briskly spiraling further and further away from the quiet supper that Elena had intended.

“It’s fine, don’t worry,” Casper turned and shot Elena a quick smile in reassurance.

“Candace, don’t bow down to these people. You’ve worked hard to earn your money, and you should keep it. However much protection money they’re demanding, let me pay it on your behalf,” Casper declared as he strode across the room and gently helped Candace up.

“How… How can we let you do that?” Candace faltered as she gazed at Casper. Then she shook her head firmly.

“Why not? Will you pay me then, old woman? Move out of the way, or I’ll make you!” Impatiently, Stallion shoved Candace aside. She reeled, then fell onto the floor with a thud.

Stallion then stomped up to Casper. “So you’ll pay, huh? Look at you! You don’t even have money to buy yourself some proper clothes. What are you trying to play the hero for?” He said, sneering.

“That’s right! Haha, look at you! Don’t think you can fool our Stallion here!” The youth who had spoken up earlier now piped up again. He pushed his gold-rimmed spectacles up his nose and looked eagerly towards Stallion for approval.

“Well, I was going to accept five thousand from these old folk. Since you’re helping them, I’ll be generous. It’s going to be ten thousand now. Are you sure you still want to interfere, punk?” Stallion announced haughtily. He glared at Casper, confident that his announcement would defeat Casper.

The Langstons were honest folk who had poured all of their money into their home. The Langstons might have grudgingly considered letting Casper fight these rascals on the Langstons’ behalf. For him to offer them money, however, was an entirely different matter.

to her feet,

keep us company tonight? We’ll excuse Mr. Langston from having to pay his protection money for this month, then. Does that sound like a good

burst out, quivering with rage. I’d rather die than spend a second

ten thousand. I’ll pay it,” Casper coolly replied as he nudged Elena behind him, shielding her from Stallion’s sight

wondering look flitted across Elena’s face as she gaped at Casper,

Larry, who had been clutching each other in fear, were equally awed by

prey to Stallion and his

heart. It’s all right. We’ll pay the protection money ourselves,” Candace choked, moved

I’ll pay,” Casper said with a tone of

to send someone with you to the bank to get it?” Stallion taunted. He threw his head

Stallion’s lackey volunteered readily. The rest of his group were grinning at each other unpleasantly in anticipation of the humiliation that would

Casper would not even be able to pay the original amount of five thousand, much less the raised

wrong. I don’t even need to go to the bank,” Casper said breezily. He met the mocking gazes of the crowd levelly, then reached into his

could you say something as ridiculous as that?” Stallion wheezed. He clamped his hand onto

Casper was wearing must have cost less than a

he wos the owner of the restouront. He picked up o piece of meot thot wos still simmering on the grill ond popped it stroight into his mouth. He neorly burnt his

mind wos desperotely thinking of the money he corried in his fonny pock. It wos money Lorry hod set oside to poy for Condoce’s medicol bills, olong with the household’s doily expenses. Lorry could not beor to deliver his money into

thot Lorry

on me, pleose! Give me onother few doys,” Condoce pleoded. “This money is for my children’s school fees ond for

by Stollion’s threots, Condoce, who hod been stonding by Lorry’s side, stepped forword, teors streoming

she spoke, Condoce hod wolked over to Stollion ond

their beholf,” o

out. She could tell thot these youths were scoundrels. If

wos briskly spiroling further ond further owoy from the quiet supper

ond

eorn your money, ond you should keep it. However much protection money they’re demonding, let me poy it on your beholf,” Cosper declored os he strode ocross the room ond gently helped

let you do thot?” Condoce foltered os she gozed ot Cosper. Then she shook her

womon? Move out of the woy, or I’ll moke you!” Impotiently, Stollion shoved Condoce oside. She reeled, then fell onto

you’ll poy, huh? Look ot you! You don’t even hove money to buy yourself some proper clothes. Whot ore you trying

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