A Grumpy Man and A Sad Girl

"I told you, I will not sell the land to you," William Montgomery said to the man in front of him.

"Are you still mad at me for what I did to your wife six years ago?" asked Raymond Martin with a smile to cover his annoyance. "Didn't I already apologize?"

William's face flushed. "Of course, I'm still very angry about that. However, that has nothing to do with this lease. You told me you'd only rent, not buy. I will never take it off for you."

William stood up from his seat and walked out of Martin's room in annoyance. He felt his time was wasted by his business partner. He asked his assistant to immediately schedule his departure back to New York the next day.

Martin snorted in annoyance. "Maya, why is the guy getting so grumpy?"

"Ever since his wife gone, he's been very difficult to compromise with," Maya answered with a straight face. "Do you want me to handle it, boss? I can take him out for a drink and serve him in the bedroom if you like."

Martin shook his head, much to his assistant's dismay. "Find me a classy escort with blue eyes and blonde hair."

Maya complied. Her boss asked her to find a woman who looked like William's wife, Paula. She then called Elia, a pimp who sold her top-level escorts at fantastic prices.

***

A day ago, in an old house owned by the Smith family.

"He wants you, Ava!" Andrew said to his beloved daughter. He caressed her cheeks, wiping her tears tenderly. "Honestly, I don't want you to get married. You are just twenty."

Ava cried in fear. She found her father sick. Since his bankruptcy, Andrew Smith owes a lot to the mafia in the guise of a very cruel businessman. Andrew has sold all of his assets, but he still has two million dollars in debt. In return, the mafia wanted him to give up his only daughter as payment for the debt.

"I also don't want it, dad!" Ava insisted. "Let me find another way, please!"

Ava was very close to her father. Since she woke up from a long coma state, there was only her father by her side. Her mother was gone. She didn't want to lose her father either.

"No way, Ava! We have no choice."

"Nothing is impossible! We'll go through this together!" Ava protested with piercing eyes, looking up at her father. At that moment, the father fell silent. The drastic change in her daughter's character always made him surprised.

Andrew fell silent. Her daughter was indeed an extraordinary girl. He barely survived bankruptcy thanks to the help of his daughter. However, the iron-fisted mobster undermines the girl's hard work.

"If it's not you who believes in me, who will?" Ava's last sentence made Andrew's heart melt. He then hugged his daughter, entrusting all the problems they were facing to her.

He no longer had a home because the house had now been taken over by the mafia. He also did not have enough savings. Trembling, he pulled open a drawer and took out a jewelry box from it.

Andrew's pale hands felt cold as he held out a ring set with blue diamonds, the same color as Ava's eyes.

"What is this, dad?" Ava asked confusedly. It was the first time she saw a ring that was so beautiful and elegant.

"Th—this is your grandmother's ring. I only have this. We can sell it. I think," Andrew's lips looked increasingly pale and dry. He didn't want to give the ring to her. However, he had nothing but the ring.

Ava took the ring with trembling hands. She and Andrew didn't know much about jewelry. However, she had a hunch that it was an expensive ring. The next day, she went to a jeweler. However, she did not intend to sell the ring.

Ava was dressed as extravagantly as possible. She went to the shopkeeper, asking to see the shop owner.

She shoved the photo of her grandmother's ring to the shop owner. "I'm looking for jewelry like this," Ava asked confidently as if she had a lot of money.

The shop owner laughed. "Impossible!" He scanned Ava from top to toe. "This big diamond has an owner. The last owner is keeping his or her identity a secret."

Ava frowned. "I heard that a filthy rich woman bought the ring to be passed on to her children and grandchildren."

The girl seemed to understand. It turned out that the object that belonged to his father was indeed very valuable.

"Is it true that you have enough money to buy it? They cost around three million dollars," the shop owner eyed Ava suspiciously.

"Who would possibly buy it?" Ava asked again.

The shop owner shook his head. "You are the second person to look for this ring within these two years."

Ava's brows furrowed. If someone else was looking for the ring, she would surely find a buyer for a good price. If she sold the ring, her father's debt would be paid off.

Based on information from the shop owner, Ava came to the woman's mansion looking for the ring. She was indeed going to sell it now. She was determined to buy it again when she had more money later. It was a family legacy, anyway.

"Is this a stolen ring?" asked the woman sarcastically.

"That's my late grandmother's ring," Ava replied irritably.

"Really?" said the woman. Her eyes narrowed again at the ring.

Ava felt a little scared. However, Elia's fascination with the ring was so obvious, making Ava want to take advantage of it.

"Fine, if you don't want it. I'll take this ring somewhere else," said Ava with a straight face, as if she didn't care about Elia.

"No, no! You can sell it here. How much money do you want?" asked the middle-aged woman with an enthusiastic face.

"This is a fancy vivid blue diamond, twelve carats. I think, 2.5 million dollars is cheap enough," Ava said confidently.

"Damn, kid! Without a certificate the price will drop, you idiot!" snapped Elia.

Ava knew it. However, at least she wouldn't be fooled if she knew something about the item she was carrying.

"One million is good for me," Elia tried to bargain.

"That's too low—"

Suddenly Elia's phone rang. She was forced to delay the conversation with Ava. It was a call from someone who was looking for an escort with blue eyes and blonde hair as attached in the photo. The woman in the photo looked elegant, classy, and educated. Not a cheap-looking woman.

Elia glanced at her guest who was still hoping to get two and a half million from her. Her smile widened.

She then approached Ava and said, "I'll give you two and a half million."

"Is it true?" Ava's eyes widened. She was glad at the thought that her father's debt would soon be paid off.

"But of course, I have conditions …."