An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori (official version)

Terrence’s friend flattered him and tried to court his favor.

Terrence, however, sat frozen where he was for a long time. Never had he dreamed that the

abandoned construction site that nobody wanted anything to do with would suddenly transform into

such a valuable piece of land overnight!

“What’s wrong, Terrence? Are you feeling alright?” Terrence’s friend asked.

“Hahaha! He must be having problems coming to terms with the fact that he’s going to be filthy rich!”

Someone jested.

“Ri–Richie, how much does that abandoned building cost now?” Terrence asked tentatively.

“At least two billion!” Richie said.

“Two billion?” Terrence felt like he’d been struck by lightning, and he blanched.

Under everyone’s disbelieving gaze, Terrence gave himself two slaps on the face. “I–I’m the greatest

idiot!” How could he have just sold off a plot of land worth two billion dollars? Was there anyone out

there more dumb than him?

Just as everyone wondered what was wrong with Terrence, the door of the private room was kicked

open with a loud bang. Then, Florence, Victoria, and a few others barged in through the door. And they

were fuming.

“Terrence Stone! There you are!”

“Give me back my money! Give me all the money that you’ve swindled off me!”

“You swindler! Give me back my money!” Florence began shouting aggressively the moment she

entered. She had even gotten several stout and burly women to come along with her to back her

1. up.

“Why are you here?” A sudden feeling of guilt came over Terrence, and his expression changed. He

had not expected them to barge in while he was having a meal.

“How are we going to catch the swindler if we didn’t come here personally?” Victoria shot him a

glare.

“That’s right! How dare you enjoy dining in such a luxurious place after cheating us of our money?

You’re utterly shameless!” Florence demanded with her hands on her hips.

“Who are these shrews, Terrence? Should we throw them out?” Terrence’s friends asked meanly.

Terrence was about to be the wealthiest one among them, so they were all dying to suck up to him.

“No, that won’t be necessary. I know them.” An idea came to Terrence, and he quickly told his friends,

“You guys head on back for now. I’ve got some personal matters to deal with. I’ll buy you all a meal

some other day.” And with that, he urged his friends to leave the private room.

“I don’t give a damn about what tricks you have up your sleeves, Terrence. Give me my money now!

“Victoria was not about to back off any time soon.

“Victoria, let’s sit down and talk, shall we? Don’t get all worked up.” With a smile on his face, he poured

everyone a cup of tea.

“Cut the crap, you swindler!” Not wishing to waste her time on him, Victoria knocked the cup of

tea over.

“I don’t think I follow, Victoria. When have I swindled you?” Terrence pretended not to understand

what she was going on about.

“Oh, so you’re still trying to deny what you’ve done?” Victoria shot daggers at him with her eyes.

“You’re playing the fool with us, are you? Here, I’ll help jog your memory. A week ago, you swindled us

into purchasing the plot of land where the abandoned building was, for a total of a hundred million

dollars. Do you remember now?” Florence’s piercing gaze bore into Terrence. That piece of land had

nearly caused her to go bankrupt, and she still had recurring nightmares

about it.

“You’re both mistaken!” Terrence sighed and acted like he had been wronged. “About that piece of

land, that was all because of my friend. I’m a victim just like you! I’d been cheated out of my money

too!”

“That’s rubbish! Do you think we’d buy that?” Victoria had a skeptical expression.

“She’s right! Why did you disappear for the past few days if you’re a victim too? We couldn’t find you,

nor could we contact you. I’m sure that you’ve conspired against us together with your friend!

“Florence shouted.

“I didn’t! I really am a victim too!” With the most miserable look he could manage, Terrence said, “I

haven’t shown myself for the past few days because I was too ashamed to face you! Besides, I’ve

1/2

Chapter 580

been trying to locate my friend to get him to pay back the money that he ripped off of you! I’ve been

doing that for you!”

“You claim to be so righteous, but where’s our money?” Florence demanded. She wasn’t going to

believe his big talk anymore. If he did not return their money, everything he said was as good as

trash.

“My friend has disappeared without a trace. I suspect that he has long since fled to another city.”

Terrence sighed deeply.

“Hah! I knew you were going to say that!” Florence smiled sardonically.

“Although my friend has run off with your money, I’ll take full responsibility for the money you’ve lost!”

He declared righteously with a resolute demeanor.

Everyone was taken aback by his words, and they all had an astonished expression on their faces. It

was beyond their expectation that he would take responsibility for the matter, as they thought that he

would deny everything.

“So, what you’re saying is that you’ll pay us our money?” Victoria asked tentatively.

“Of course!” Terrence nodded earnestly. “I may be a victim too, but at the end of the day, all of you were

implicated only because of me, so I’ll pay you what you lost in full!”

“Well…” Florence and Victoria exchanged a sheepish glance. For a moment, neither of them knew

how to react.