Rory Flattered Valentina There

Pena looked at the magical scene in front of her. She pointed at Valentina and asked the waiter, "What did you just say? She's your VIP guest?" "Yes." The waiter affirmed. "You should open your eyes and look carefully. How can she be a VIP guest here? Did you just wake up?" Pena could not help but laugh as if she had heard a joke. "Ma'am, I would not make a mistake. Miss Ricardo is indeed our hotel's VIP guest." The waiter replied with a smile. "Open the wine," Valentina instructed the waiter. "Sure." The waiter opened the wine. He took a wine glass and was about to pour some for Valentina. She raised her hand to stop him. Valentina took over the wine bottle and reached past Augus. She placed the nearly untouched bottle of red wine in front of her father. She said, "After working hard for half of your life, you should drink something good." Valentina didn't participate in the drinking. It wasn't due to her filial piety, but simply because she despised the taste of this wine. As such, she did not even crave a sip. Additionally, she couldn't bear the mean faces of these so-called relatives. They thought of themselves as superior and noble, but in reality, they were but clowns. Stupefied by the waiter's sudden declaration of "Miss Ricardo", George looked at the wine brought over by Valentina. He was so scared that he waved his hands, "I... won't drink." He dared not touch it. How much did that waiter say this wine cost? Eighty-seven grand? George began to doubt whether the money they spent was the same as his. He was slow-witted and looked at Valentina, completely clueless. It was Diana who voiced his lingering doubts. "Augus, have you been here for a meal before?" Diana asked. "Val brought me here," Augus answered. He paused for a moment before he couldn't help but add, "In the top floor private room." Just how rich was that fat Valentina? Designer clothes and shoes, new phones and laptops, not to mention the hundred thousand worth of medicine - was she so wealthy that she could afford to dine in a luxurious place like this, to buy tens of thousands worth of alcohol? Even Johnson didn't spend like her. The more Diana thought about it, the worse she felt. "Woah, George, Selena, where did all your wealth come from? How could you hide your fortune from us? It's like you don't consider us family," Pena immediately questioned. "We didn't get rich. What wealth could we possibly have? Our kids have eaten here, I haven't," George answered honestly. "Kids? Where did these kids get so much money from?" Pena's narrow eyes swept towards Valentina. "Being a bit poor is okay. Just don't steal or commit illegal acts. If word gets out, even our reputation will be tarnished." "It's so funny that when you're wealthy it's considered business profit, and when we have money it's assumed misappropriation. So, only you can prosper and we should be poor forever?" Selena, never one to be at a disadvantage, immediately retorted. "Selena, look at me, poor with words. Don't mind me. But since you have an opportunity to prosper, how could you not think of us? Everyone gets rich together, right? Remember, in the past, I lent money for Val's school fees. Isn't that right?" As Pena mocked, she tried to negotiate a better deal. George hesitated, "Well..." Seeing George reluctant to speak, Pena continued, "George, out of all your brothers, you're the most sincere. So, now that you've made money, you don't recognize your brothers?" "Yeah, George." The Ricardo brothers chimed in agreement. George, helpless, chuckled and said, "I'm quite incapable. It was Val who made some money playing with the computer. Young folks' stuff, I don't understand." "Made money on the computer, huh..." "Mum, I want that." At that moment, Pena's younger son climbed onto the chair, stood up, and pointed to a plate of pastries in front of Augus. "Stop it!" Pena immediately responded displeased. Augus placed the pastries on the turntable, rotating it before Pena's little son. The child reached out and grabbed a piece to eat. Upon seeing this, George stood up naturally and carefully picked up the frighteningly expensive red wine in front of him. "Come on, everybody drink together. I'll pour for you." "All your brothers are doing big business. What kind of wine haven't they tasted? Don't be generous and leave it for yourself." Valentina casually said at this moment. Holding the wine, George stood awkwardly in the same spot. Hearing this, the aunts each had an expression that seemed to twist their facial features. Especially Pena, seeing her younger son finish one pastry and reaching for the second one, then looking at Selena's smug face, she directly snatched the pastry from her son's hand and threw it back onto the plate. "Did I starve you at home? Starvation would reincarnate you. Just stop!" Pena yelled in a high-pitched voice. The kid was only about four or five years old. Having had his food snatched and getting scolded, he immediately burst into tears. Pena scolded him even more fiercely. The more she scolded, the angrier she became. Pena turned to George and said, "George, don't blame me if I didn't remind you. There aren't many who make money online in the right way. Don't get cheated. I heard that there are now many young girls who have taken out naked loans; they can even loan up to a million. There are also those wealthy old people sponsoring, your Val should not walk these wild roads." Hearing these words, George immediately worried about Valentina, fearing she might be deceived online. Diana, however, wished she could pray earnestly for Valentina's money to have come from a naked loan. "Naked loans and sugar relationships require capital, you know. Someone like you, an old lady with loose skin and wrinkles all over your face, won't be wanted even if it's for free." Valentina retorted lightly. Augus, who was just infuriated by the words of Pena, couldn't help but laugh when he heard them. "How can you speak like that?! Pena smacked the table angrily. "You are so young but don't learn good things. You think you are proud and you have gained great honor to bare your body in exchange for dirty money. I was wondering why you suddenly transformed from being so fat." The loud shouting of Pena successfully drew the attention of Rory. Rory had just entered the main entrance, standing in the hall at this moment. He was looking at his annoying son who was sluggishly refusing to come in. Hearing the noise, Rory looked over subconsciously and saw Pena. Rory frowned. Just as he was about to retract his gaze, he suddenly noticed a familiar face among a large table of people. The more Pena scolded, the more insulting it got. Selena, who couldn't bear the humiliation, stood up and retaliated. Pena's eldest son stepped out to defend his mother, pointing at Selena and viciously warning, "Don't you dare scold my mother again." The fire spread to the surroundings. Frank was helping his wife scold Valentina for being reckless and concluded that Valentina was making dirty money by stripping. A rabbit, when cornered, would bite humans. The ordinarily gentle and unassuming George could no longer bear to see his daughter being bullied. Slapping the table, he jumped to his feet. "Frank, you shouldn't speak too rudely!" Seeing the chaotic situation, the other family members began to intervene. But undoubtedly, they naturally sided with Frank's family, suppressing George's family because they were poor. Valentina sat on the chair expressionlessly, watching the ridiculous antics of the Ricardo family. As the verbal sparring between Pena and Selena became more and more unbearable, the tension between the Ricardo brothers made her more impatient and mad. Just when all the emotions reached their peak. A cold murderous intent flashed through Valentina's eyes. Just then, a robust middle-aged male voice broke in abruptly, "Oh, Miss Ricardo!" Rory was well-dressed in a suit, with strikingly regular features, a stern demeanor, a slightly portly figure, behind glasses was the unmistakable air of bureaucracy. Rory's presence commanded the room effortlessly. In just three or four seconds, the room quieted down. The Ricardo family shut their mouths, all eyes turned to Rory. "Mr. Howard," Augus was feeling anxious, concerned that a fight would break out, putting his family at a disadvantage. Seeing Rory's arrival, he immediately felt relieved. "Mr. Mayor?" Johnson called out subconsciously. "Mayor?" Pena was stunned. She looked at Augus, then at Rory, wondering if she heard it wrong. "Augus, you're here too. It's been a while," Rory greeted warmly, his face full of smiles as he graciously shook hands with Augus. After a quick glance around the room and observing the pairs of curiosity-filled eyes, he turned to Valentina with a smile and said, "Miss Ricardo, what a coincidence that you're here for a meal too. Why are you dining in the main hall? I've booked a private suite upstairs." Rory warmly invited Valentina to join him upstairs for a meal. "Rory, why are you hanging around here? Why aren't you upstairs? We're just waiting for you," James said as he came down with Byron. Saxon also hurried down with his daughter, Eudora.