Chapter 45: Chapter 45 - The Spoils of Wealth

Leon and Uncle Ben were dressed in their finest suits; Leon's charcoal gray with a midnight blue pocket square, while Uncle Ben wore navy blue.

Lily was wearing a white dress that made her look like an angel, with her beautiful blond hair shimmering in the warm light of the restaurant. She felt extra special that night as she twirled around in her dress and giggled softly.

"You look amazing, Lil," said Ben as he gazed at his niece with admiration. He couldn't believe how much she had grown up.

Lily smiled as she exclaimed, "I know! The fabric of this dress is so soft and luxurious against my skin - I'm absolutely in love with it!"

She quickly spun around and flashed Leon a beaming smile. "Leon, I can't thank you enough for bringing this to me," she said. "I never thought I would ever have a dress as beautiful as this one."

Leon simply smiled, responding to his sister's words. "Happy, Lily?"

Lily nodded quickly at Leon's question.

Ben smiled as he caught sight of the joy on both their faces. They had come here to celebrate something special, and it seemed like nothing could spoil this moment for them.

Ben nervously asked Leon where he'd gotten the money for their dinner. Leon waved away his concern and said, "Don't worry about it. I got a lot from my ex-manager."

Ben felt relieved as he knew that Leon was in good hands. He nodded in appreciation. "I'm glad you had a good previous manager, Leon. But why did you leave your job? Did you find something better?"

"I guess so," he replied. "I want to put more effort into a game I'm playing."

"Game?" Ben inquired. "The one with the capsules?"

"Yes," Leon answered simply, no further explanation given.

Lily could not help the huge grin that started stretching on her face; she felt blessed to have such a kind-hearted family around her. She silently prayed in her heart that these moments of joy and contentment would remain with them forever.

Just then, the food arrived, and Lily's eyes lit up with glee, clearly elated by the sight of the succulent dishes before her. Even her cheeks seemed to radiate happiness as they glowed in the warm light.

Lily chuckled as she scooped up a huge spoonful of mashed potatoes onto her plate.

"My, this food looks delicious!" she exclaimed, looking around at the tables piled high with dishes.

Her brother smiled softly in return. "It sure does! Let's enjoy it!"

They laughed joyously as they devoured the sumptuous meal. Every bite tasted like a precious gift from heaven.

Lily beamed with delight, feeling her heart swell with warmth and thankfulness that night. Despite their parents no longer being around, her brother and her Uncle kept them close and rooted.

Lily's eyes lit up as she took another sip from her goblet. "This is amazing," she said, a smile spreading across her face as she savored the taste. She paused for a moment before grabbing another glass of juice.

Ben rubbed the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly at Lily. "I know I haven't been around much, and I'm really sorry about that. But I promise to make up for it soon."

Lily smiled as she turned to Ben, her expression filled with gratitude. "Thank you for all your hard work, Uncle," she said, a slight quiver in her voice. "We're really starting to grow now, and I want to be able to help you more."

Ben nodded in agreement, his face lighting up with a smile. "What about the school you go to? I heard Leon was skipping some classes."

Lily inhaled deeply before continuing. "Yes, he told me he's been skipping for several weeks now. When I asked him why, he said he's been busy and just couldn't make it to class."

Leon sighed as he spoke, "I still do my homework, even though I'm not on campus. It's just that the Immortal Legacy game has taken over my free time, but I'll be back soon."

Ben still kept inquiring about numerous things from Leon, but then he felt relieved as Leon now had a beautiful female friend. "I'm glad to hear that you are now enjoying your life more, Leon," Ben said, smiling. "And the pretty lady this afternoon, is she your girlfriend?"

"No, she is a work colleague," Leon replied.

At this, Ben just smiled, and Lily couldn't help but giggle.

Turning towards Lily, Ben intended to ask her the same question. "So, how is school going for you, Lil?" he inquired.

Lily beamed from ear to ear as she spoke. "School has been so much fun! I'm having the time of my life," she said cheerfully. "You two don't need to worry about me at all."

The words eased some of Ben's unease. He smiled and patted Lily's shoulder reassuringly. "I'm glad to hear that, Lil."

"So, a bunch of poor people are having dinner." A sound approached as the three of them were joking and chatting.

Ben turned his head and saw the figure of a boy about Lily's age.

"Hey, who are you?" Ben asked sternly, standing up from his seat.

"Gerald?" Lily muttered under her breath.

Gerald glared at them with a face full of rage, then paused. He snarled out a string of expletives, "I'm the son of the owner here and of the man who's a regular contributor at the school where I and your dumb niece attend."

"Gerald! What do you think you're doing here?" Lily exclaimed, shock evident in her voice.

Gerald chuckled maliciously and said, "Look at you three trying to act like you have money. Where did you get the money to eat here? You must have stolen it."

Ben glanced at Lily with a concerned expression and asked, "Lil, are you sure this is your friend?"

Lily nodded her head in disbelief and replied, "I can't believe he just said that!"

Gerald spat, "Lily was rude to me at school. I guess it's because she's an orphan and hasn't gotten a proper education since she was little."

Ben fumed in anger as he took a step towards Gerald. But two of Gerald's bodyguards stepped up, blocking his way.

Gerald sneered, "You'd better leave the place immediately if you know what's good for you!"

Ben glared at him defiantly and retorted, "I'm not scared of you or your goons!"

Ben grasped at the two men, struggling to break free. He thrashed and roared, his cries ringing out through the restaurant.

"Let go of me!" he growled, finally drawing the attention of those around him.

Gerald sneered down at Lily, his lips forming into a cruel smirk. "Do you think you're something special?" he asked, his voice dripping with contempt. "No wonder you don't have good manners; you were raised by uneducated people."

Lily narrowed her eyes, her face contorted with rage. She stepped forward. "How dare you speak to me like that! Don't you ever try to belittle my family!"

Gerald stared down at Lily, his eyes filled with condescension. "You're nothing but a lowly slut," he sneered, the words burning in the air like acid. His lips curled into a cruel smirk as Lily felt her cheeks flush with rage.

She looked back up at him defiantly and spat back, "I may be low to you, Gerald, but I know my worth."

Lily shoved Gerald, her face a mask of fury. "Leave us, now!"

"What are you trying to do?" he exclaimed, his hands curling into fists. He was ready to retaliate when Leon stepped between them, catching Gerald's hand in midair.

Leon's voice echoed wildly around the room, silencing everyone until all was quiet. "Do not even think about touching her or meddling with my family," he commanded.

He snarled with burning rage as he lunged forward, sending his fist into Gerald's face. With a powerful force, Gerald was thrown off balance, skidding across the ground before crashing down with a sickening crunch.

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