Chapter 343 - 342: Just Make Yourself at Home

「The next morning.」

Joanne Cheney, dripping with jewels, strolled downstairs. As she walked, she put on a pair of cheap pearl earrings larger than her own eyeballs, reeking of new money.

Ken Ward walked beside her, hands clasped behind his back and beer belly jutting out. He said in a deep voice,

"According to what you said last night, Hugo has most likely gotten suspicious of our act. It’s all your fault. Why the hell did you have to video call him so many times every day? You must have blown our cover!"

"How is that my fault? Am I wrong for calling to show some concern for our son?! Besides, I did a perfect job covering our tracks! It’s not my fault our son is too smart. How can you blame me for that?!" Joanne Cheney rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Ken Ward, unwilling to argue with her any further, brushed past her and took the lead down the stairs.

"In any case, don’t go wandering around today. Just stay put at home. Once I get back with the stuff, we’ll start filming. Make sure you have your lines memorized."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I know those lines like the back of my hand. And let me tell you, I can cry on cue now, and it looks completely real.

Forget making people online believe me—if you put me in a movie, I could win a Best Actress award in a heartbeat."

A smug smile spread across Joanne Cheney’s face. ’I refuse to believe it,’ she thought. ’How could I not win over those people online?’

’The King Family is about to become billionaires! Hehe~’

Joanne Cheney took a few more steps down, only to find Ken Ward standing frozen at the bottom of the staircase. She went up and gave him a little push.

"What are you gawking at? Get moving... Ah! Who are you people?!"

Joanne Cheney stared, aghast, at the group of men in black standing in her living room. ’How did they get in?!’ she thought frantically. ’Why didn’t I hear a single sound from upstairs?!’

Felix Knight was lounging on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other. In high spirits, he gave them a cheerful wave.

"Boss Warren, Mrs. Warren, good morning. Sleep well?"

"Woody! Woody, where are you?! WOODY!!!" Joanne Cheney shrieked toward the kitchen.

’Is that useless part-time cleaner dead or something?! She’s supposed to be here right now!!’

’And the security guards for the complex, what the hell are they paid for?! They let just anyone waltz in here, and they have the nerve to call this place "strictly private"?!’

’Are our homeowners’ fees just being flushed down the toilet?!’

Ken Ward swallowed, the motion almost imperceptible, and slowly moved the hand behind his back toward his pocket, hoping to pull out his phone and call for help.

’Tsk, she’s as loud as a screaming chicken toy,’ Felix thought. ’So damn annoying.’

CLICK.

Felix Knight nonchalantly cocked his pistol. The sound wasn’t loud, but it rang in the couple’s ears with unnerving clarity.

They both turned their heads mechanically to look at Felix Knight... at the gun in his hand. Joanne Cheney immediately fell silent, her hand subconsciously clutching the hem of Ken Ward’s jacket.

’That thing... Is it real or fake?’

Felix acted as if he’d only just noticed them, his voice laced with mock surprise.

"Oh? Why are you two still standing over there? Come on, have a seat. Just make yourselves at home, no need to be polite with me."

Ken Ward and Joanne Cheney: ’I mean... this *is* our home, isn’t it?!’

Seeing them still frozen in place, a nearby subordinate stepped forward and, with a polite gesture, invited them to take a seat.

Subordinate: ’We in Moonshadow are all well-rounded, high-caliber professionals! We’re guaranteed to be polite!’

The pair timidly walked over. They had intended to remain standing, but Felix Knight’s unblinking stare forced them to huddle together and sit down, squeezing onto an already cramped armchair.

Just as Ken Ward was about to speak, Felix Knight beat him to the punch.

"Oh, by the way, Mrs. Warren, about that part-time cleaner, Woody, you were looking for? I fired her in your name. I even gave her three months’ pay as severance. Charged to your card, of course."

"What?! What gives you the right to do that?!"

Joanne Cheney stared at him, horrified. ’That was three whole months of pay!!’

She quickly came to her senses and pulled out her phone to check her account balance, but she had zero signal bars, and even the Wi-Fi wasn’t working.

Ken Ward caught a glimpse of the status bar in the top-right corner of her phone, and his own sense of dread intensified.

Felix Knight toyed nonchalantly with the gun in his hand.

"Oh, silly me. I completely forgot to tell you. I used a few little gadgets to block all the signals around here, so the two of you probably won’t be able to contact the outside world for a while.

But you can rest easy, Mrs. Warren. Other than those three months of pay, I haven’t touched a single penny of your money.

As compensation, however, I’ve ordered you both some takeout on my own dime. They’re all local breakfast specialties, so you shouldn’t have any trouble with the food, right?"

The couple’s gaze shifted to the impressive spread of breakfast on the coffee table. It wasn’t that they wouldn’t like the food, but they certainly didn’t dare to eat it!

’If a bunch of strangers suddenly appeared in your house, made themselves at home, and even bought you breakfast, would *you* be able to eat?! Huh?!’

Felix: Eat it or don’t. I’ve got an appetite. ?ヽ(`Д′)?┻━┻

Ken Ward clasped his hands together, large beads of sweat trickling down from his temples.

He did his best to keep his voice steady as he spoke.

"Sir, forgive my ignorance, but I’m just an ordinary businessman from a small county town. I don’t believe we’ve ever had any dealings. I wonder... why have you come here today?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just waiting for someone."

Felix Knight glanced up, exchanging an imperceptible look with Tina. After receiving the command in his eyes, Tina silently went upstairs alone.

Joanne Cheney’s voice trembled as she shouted, "Why are you waiting for someone in my house?! We don’t even know you!"

After she finished shouting, Ken Ward made a show of holding her back and shot her a glare before turning back with an apologetic smile.

"I’m sorry, my wife is a bit hot-headed. Please forgive her. Might I ask who it is you’re waiting for...?"

"Mrs. Warren’s personality is certainly... versatile. But I’m a man who prefers the quiet, so I rather like the face she puts on for your precious son. I’d advise you to keep up that act, Mrs. Warren."

Felix Knight stopped fiddling with his fingernails and looked up, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

"As for who I’m waiting for... why, the same person you’re waiting for, of course. The one you’re waiting to swindle."

The husband and wife exchanged a look, each seeing the panic in the other’s eyes. ’It couldn’t be what we think it is, could it?!’

Felix Knight raised an eyebrow and spoke in a mocking tone.

"Ah, so you remember now? Or have you schemed against so many people that you can’t be sure which one I’m talking about?"

Ken Ward tightened his grip on Joanne Cheney’s hand and forced an awkward smile.

"Not at all, not at all. We’re honest businesspeople, and our reputation back home is impeccable. There must be some kind of misunderstanding here, right?"