Dale dismissed Katelyn with a casual wave of his hand before she could elaborate. He grabbed his luggage from the ground and gave it a quick dusting.

“I’m not interested in any of this business talk. Just leave me alone,” he said flatly.

The only thing he had left was the suit he wore to the banquet earlier, still sharp and clean. He had always distrusted businessmen, seeing them as tricky and dishonest. Without the money or connections to make a deal, he had no intention of doing anything rash.

As Dale turned to leave, Vincent stepped in front of him, his towering frame blocking the path. Dale instinctively took a step back, feeling dwarfed by Vincent’s imposing presence.

Vincent’s face was unreadable as he spoke in a calm, steady voice. “I, on the other hand, think it’s worth talking about. After all, I can give you a chance at a fresh start.”

The measured calmness in Vincent’s voice made Dale’s pulse race, a stark contrast to the serene delivery. Coming from a once-esteemed family and possessing a knack for reading people, Dale could instantly tell that Katelyn and Vincent were not ordinary. Their sophisticated clothes and composed demeanor marked them as people of significance.

To avoid his debt, Dale had chosen a place so remote that even the most desperate wouldn’t venture there. Yet somehow, they had found him. Discover more novels at find(?)ovel.net

A sudden realization struck Dale.

“You’re here about my uncle’s castle, aren’t you? Even though he’s in poor health, he’s been hanging on for years. Who knows when he’ll actually die? You’ll have to wait until he’s gone before you can talk to me,” Dale said. He waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave in a different direction.

This time, Katelyn stepped in front of Dale, blocking his way with a calm but firm stance. Her voice was gentle, almost as if she were trying to persuade him softly.

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“You’re partially correct about what we want. We can offer you a fresh start, but only if you take us to see your uncle. What happens with the deal after that is up to us,” she said.

Katelyn was taken aback when Dale suddenly erupted into laughter, tears almost streaming down his face as if he had heard the greatest joke.

Her expression shifted to one of confusion. Had she said something funny?

She remained silent, waiting for Dale to stop laughing.

When he finally caught his breath, he said, “Are you all in the same support group or what? Is that how greedy business people are taught to act? You’re offering me a fresh start? Seriously? Do you even know how much I owe?”

He gave a scornful laugh, still shaking his head.

“Even if I worked my entire life, or even in the next life, I’d never be able to repay this debt.” Drugs, gambling, and high-interest loans had drained his resources in no time. He often cursed himself for falling into such destructive habits, wishing he were still the charming young nobleman of high society instead of hiding like a rat in this grimy place.

He resented his situation, yet he couldn’t control his urges. With whatever little money he had, he’d always head straight to the casino, hoping to win big and recover his losses. It was the classic gambler’s trap of trying to chase lost fortunes.

Turning to Vincent with a trace of mockery, he said, “So, can you really guarantee it? If you pay off all my gambling debts right now, I’ll take you to meet my uncle and vouch for you, making sure you get that piece of land.”

Katelyn looked at Vincent, concern written on her face. She knew Dale’s gambling debts must be enormous. Plus, they still needed to cover the cost of the land. Even though Vincent was wealthy, it was still a substantial amount. A smart businessman never wasted money.

Vincent nodded firmly, a smile playing on his lips. “Sure thing. I can even throw in one more favor for you.”

Dale stared in disbelief, his eyes wide with surprise.

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