Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Everyone stared at Marcus like he had just spoken in a different language.
For a second no one even reacted. Then the noise came all at once.
A few people laughed loudly. Some shook their heads. Others simply looked at him with pity like he was
crazy.
Ivana leaned forward with her elbows on the table. “Do you mean each of us gets a fifty-thousand-dollar bottle? That’s about eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars in total. You surely don’t have that kind of money. Stop bluffing already p>
Wilson frowned and shouted. “Stop wasting our time with a fifty-thousand-dollar wine order you can’t pay for p>
Jessica joined in, her voice nervous. “Marcus, stop embarrassing yourself. Even I can’t spend eight hundred and fifty thousand on drinks. Are you tripping p>
Julia leaned closer and whispered, “I think you should just stop now p>
It was obvious. Not a single person at that table believed him.
“He’s lost it p>
“This is what poverty does to someone p>
“He’s trying to save face p>
Marcus did not reply to any of them. He kept his eyes on the waiter.
“Why are you still standing there?” Marcus asked calmly. “Go and bring it p>
The waiter looked torn between confusion and fear. He glanced at Wilson.
Wilson waved a hand impatiently. “If you stress him and he can’t pay, what should happened p>
Marcus smiled faintly. “Well, any punishment you people wish for me, I’ll accept it p>
Wilson smirked. “Oh, I will make sure you are properly humiliated p>
He was completely sure Marcus was bluffing. In his mind, this was the final stage before Marcus broke down and begged.
“You think we are fools?” Wilson added, then gestured to the waiter. “Go and bring the wines p>
Jessica tried one more time. “Marcus, stop this, please p>
He didn’t even look at her.
Minutes passed.
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The room was restless. People whispered. Some laughed quietly. Others were already imagining the scene of Marcus on his knees with beer dripping down his head.
Then the door opened.
The waiter returned, followed by two other staff members. Between them were the bottles, handled carefully like fragile treasure. They placed them on the table one after another.
Seventeen bottles. The labels were unmistakable.
Wilson smiled slowly. “Now the time has come. Payment. Pay your money p>
A few people chuckled.
“This is where he backs out p>
“Watch him start apologizing p>
“Let’s see the magic now p>
Marcus didn’t say a word. He slipped his hand into his pocket.
The movement was slow and calm.
He brought out a black card and placed it gently on the table.
The sound it made against the wood was soft, but in the silence of the room, it felt loud.
Everyone began to whisper at once.
“What the heck… is that a black card p>
“Oh God… it is p>
“How did Marcus get a black card p>
Jessica frowned hard and sat back slowly in her chair.
Damien’s mouth stayed open. He couldn’t even blink.
Wilson’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the card on the table. “What is this? Is that really a black card p>
Marcus said nothing. He only watched the waiter.
Ivana suddenly stood up and leaned across the table. She worked at a bank and had seen premium cards before. She didn’t even ask for permission before picking it up.
She examined it closely.
Her face changed.
“That’s authentic,” she muttered. Then she looked at Marcus. “How did you get hold of this? Do you even
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know what this is? Only a tiny percentage of people in this country have this card. What is it doing in your hand p>
Murmurs spread across the table.
Someone quickly chimed in. “Maybe there’s no money in it. People like him can fake things to look rich. Let the waiter try the payment p>
Several heads nodded.
“Yes, let’s see p>
“I’m sure it won’t go through p>
Marcus calmly gestured to the waiter. “Go ahead p>
The waiter swallowed and took the card carefully. It felt heavy in his hand. He walked to the payment machine and inserted it.
Because it was a premium card, it didn’t ask for a PIN immediately.
Everyone leaned forward in their seats.
The waiter stared at the screen.
A few seconds passed.
Then he said, “Mmm… payment failed p>
The room exploded into laughter.
“I knew it p>
“He’s bluffing p>
“Look at him p>
Kevin slapped the table as he laughed. Others joined in loudly.
Jessica shook her head. “Marcus is really out of touch with reality p>
Some people were already mocking him openly.
Wilson leaned back with a wide grin. “And this is the hero with the black card p>
The waiter suddenly looked up, embarrassed. “Oh… my bad. I’m sorry. The network here has some glitches. Let me try again p>
Ivana scoffed. “That’s part of the trick. He probably programmed something into the card to confuse the machine. Poor people can be very creative p>
A few people laughed again.
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The waiter didn’t wait for more comments. He inserted the card again.
The machine made a soft sound.
Beep.
Everyone went quiet.
The waiter stared at the screen longer this time.
Then he looked up.
“Payment successful p>
Everyone went silent after that.
The laughter died mid-air. Faces froze. Eyes moved slowly from the waiter to Marcus.
Ivana blinked first. “Wait. What do you mean it went through? Eight hundred and fifty thousand p>
The waiter nodded. “Yes, ma’am. It was successful p>
Marcus stretched out his hand calmly and collected his card.
Wilson frowned hard. “You better check well. This might be some tech scam p>
The waiter shook his head. “That’s impossible, sir. Let me call the finance manager p>
He stepped aside with his phone.
Nobody spoke. They all stared at Marcus like he had turned into someone else.
Whispers started again.
“Did he really just make that payment p>
“Something is wrong here p>
“If he can spend that much on drinks like this… how rich is he p>
Julia and Damien looked at each other in disbelief.
Wilson muttered, boiling with anger and disbelief “I know you’re pulling some kind of trick. I will expose you p>
The waiter returned.
“Sir, the finance manager confirmed it. The money is already reflected. This is not a joke p>
Shock spread across the table.
Travis muttered, “What the hell is going on here? has Marcus become rich p>
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.