Chapter 764 - 763

764 Chapter 763

Darien was stunned as he glanced down at the bill in his hand.

Over $300,000…

He blinked, staring at Ellie in disbelief. “What is this supposed to mean?”

Ellie didn’t respond and instead turned her gaze to the manager.

The manager immediately spoke up. “Mr. Britt, you’ve spent $357,000 tonight. Will that be credit or cash?”

Darien blinked again, looking back at Ellie.

Ellie smiled. “Mr. Britt…”

She dragged out his name in a mocking tone, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Her cold gaze bore into him as she chuckled softly. “The manager is waiting for you to settle the bill. Why are you looking at me?”

Darien swallowed hard, his brow furrowing.

“Ellie, stop playing games.”

Ellie crossed her arms. “You can’t pay the bill, but I’m the one playing games?”

Meanwhile, Mollie was completely confused.

Her two friends were even more bewildered, speaking up in unison.

“Mollie, what’s going on? Isn’t this Darien’s bar? I remember we used to come here, and he’d just put it on his tab. Why are they asking for payment now?”

“Yeah, Mollie, what’s happening? Ask him! The way Ellie’s acting, you’d think she owned the place!”

Mollie quickly turned to Darien. “Darien, what’s going on?”

Darien swallowed nervously. “I… I…”

Ellie chuckled. “What? Paying the bill is just common sense, Darien. You wouldn’t be thinking of skipping out on it, would you? Hey, manager, what happens to someone who dines and dashes?”

The manager explained matter-of-factly, “We can call the police. Anyone involved would be taken in. For over three hundred thousand… well, that’s likely ten years in prison.”

Ellie’s eyes slid over to Mollie and her friends. “And what about them?”

The manager grinned. “They’d be accomplices, so they’d be looking at three to five years.”

Ellie smirked. “Darien, did you hear that? If you can’t pay, you and Mollie are headed to jail. Better settle up.”

Her words were like a breath of fresh air to Keira and Erin, who felt a sense of justice being restored.

Erin, munching on pistachios, leaned over and nudged Keira with her elbow.

“Satisfying, huh? There’s nothing better than seeing a jerk get what’s coming to him.”

Keira blinked.

“…What is up with this girl?”

Across the room, Mollie was still trying to make sense of things. She turned to Darien in disbelief. “Darien, what is going on? Ellie, you came here a few times, and now you claim this bar is yours? How shameless can you get?”

Ellie scoffed. “It doesn’t matter who owns the bar; you still have to pay.”

She turned back to Darien. “What’s wrong? Can’t afford it? Maybe you and your girlfriend should split the bill?”

Mollie panicked. “What are you talking about? I… I don’t have that kind of money!”

Ellie’s tone was light. “Darien’s spent quite a bit on you over the years, hasn’t he? It wouldn’t be too much to ask for you to cover half, would it? Unless… well, you are an accomplice, and that’s five years in jail for you.”

“You!”

Mollie turned to Darien, her eyes wide. “Darien, what’s happening here?”

Darien clenched his teeth and stepped forward, grabbing Ellie’s arm. He hissed, “Ellie Cobb! Knock it off! You’re embarrassing me in front of all these people, and I swear, if you don’t stop, I’ll get really mad!”

Ellie looked at him calmly. “Go ahead and get mad. What does that have to do with me?”

“You…”

Darien took a deep breath and, seeing the eyes of the crowd on him, finally spoke through gritted teeth. “Fine. You pay now, and I’ll pay you back later.”

Ellie raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking me for a favor? Hmm… well, maybe.”

She extended her hand, and the manager quickly handed her a bottle of wine.

Ellie passed it to Darien. “How about this: however you poured me wine earlier, do it the same way for yourself now. Then I’ll think about it.”

“You…”

Darien’s face darkened.

Ellie locked eyes with him. “What’s the matter? Don’t like the idea? In that case, I guess I’ll just let the manager call the cops.”

Darien’s face went through several shades of frustration.

Mollie and her friends were still watching. If he couldn’t pay, the truth about his situation would come out!

“Ellie… she’s doing this on purpose.”

Darien took a deep breath. “…Fine.”

He grabbed the bottle, lifted it over his head, and poured the wine down onto himself.

The liquid soaked through his hair, ran down his face, and dripped into his white shirt, staining it red.

Darien glared at Ellie. “There, happy now?”

“That’ll do.”

Ellie’s voice was casual.

Darien clenched his fists. “Now pay the bill!”

“Pay for what?” Ellie’s tone was light again. “I said I’d think about it. I just did, and I’ve decided… I’m not covering you.”

Darien finally realized he’d been played. His face twisted with fury as he shouted, “You—!”

Before he could react, the manager grabbed his wrist.

Ellie smiled coolly. “Time to pay up, Darien.”