His Lordship Alexander Kane

thousand dollars?! Amber froze, her face a mask of bewilderment. It was not that she could not afford it, but the price was just ludicrous.

For New Chesire Group, where she was the big boss, 300 thousand dollars was chump change. Heck, even three million or 30 million would not make her bat an eyelash.

As the head honcho, Amber was no stranger to glitzy events, always decked out in gowns and a dazzling array of accessories. g Necklaces, rings, headpieces, tiaras, bracelets... The stash Susanne had curated for her alone was worth an impressive 15 million.

Moreover, Amber knew her way around jewelry, and she could spota rip-off a mile away.

That necklace? At best, it was worth 1500 bucks, maybe three grand tops in a tourist trap. That vendor had the nerve to jack up the price a hundred times? That was not just highway robbery. It was pure, unadulterated greed! "Come on, you're pulling my leg, right?" Amber scoffed in disbelief.

Amber had not even opened her mouth when Coral, standing next to her, laughed with a mix of disbelief and mockery. "What do you take us for, easy marks ripe for the picking? This kind of necklace? You

could probably scoop up some rocks from a volcano's edge, give them a quick polish, and voila! "And you're talking about three hundred thousand dollars? I'd balk at three thousand!" With that, she turned to Amber, insisting, "Amber, we're not getting duped by this! Take it off and hand it back. Not even a fool would fall for this scam." Amber hummed, unclasped the necklace, and set it back down on the stall. She looped her arm through Alexander's and made to leave.

However, then...

"You've worn the necklace, and now you think you can just walk away without buying it?" The vendor's face twisted from friendly to scornful in an instant.

"Miss, that's not how things work! The necklace is second-hand now that you've touched it. If you don't buy it, who will? "You put it on, so you're obliged to buy it. That's my stalls policy. You want to go? Fine, but cough up the three hundred thousand dollars first!" What?! Amber froze, her expression turning to one of shock.

Since when did trying something mean she had to buy it? That was not

how it worked anywhere! Not even the fanciest brands in the world had such a ridiculous policy. Trying on accessories was part of the service, and if anything, they might have charged a minimal fee! Forcing a sale is against the law." Alexander's voice was even, his eyes steady on the vendor. "Three hundred thousand dollars might not seem like much, but I'm willing to put it on the table. Are you willing to take it?" Oh? The vendor shot a quick glance at Alexander, then peered over at Carson in the distance. Their eyes locked, and a wicked smile spread across his face. "You think you're threatening me, mister? You clearly have no clue where you are!" He gestured dramatically with a sweep of his hand and bellowed, "Show yourselves!" In a flash, from the stalls dotting the area around the volcano crater's rim, a mob of about 30 men in suits, all muscle and menace, came charging out. Some brandished rubber clubs, others gripped daggers, and they quickly encircled Alexander and his friends.

It was a show of brute force.

The nearby tourists scattered in panic, steering clear of the trouble.

Hardly anyone stopped to gawk, the scene spoke for itself. Those vendors were in league with each other, ready to strong-arm their customers into coughing up cash.

I Three hundred thousand bucks for a little peace of mind—that's a I steal!" With his gang of goons backing him up, the vendor's smirk deepened.

He snatched up a necklace and dangled it in front of Alexander, his voice dripping with scorn. "Where's your three hundred thousand, sir? Hand it over, and we'll see if I've got the guts to take it." Alexander remained unfazed, ignoring the suited thugs completely.

His tone was flat, emotionless. "What I choose to buy, no one can deny me. What I refuse, no one can force upon me.

"That's how it works everywhere, and Coconut Wind Island's no 3 different.

"The three hundred thousand is in my phone account. If you think you can take it, be my guest and try." : The vendor's lips curled into a sly grin as he gave Alexander a once- over, his eyes lingering with a hint of mischief on Amber's graceful figure. He chuckled softly. "Fellas, forget about this guy. Let's focus on the lady here, shall we? "This lovely lady has taken a shine to this necklace. If we hit it off, I might just let her have it in the house!" On the house? The suited men shared knowing looks, their grins widening with ill intent.

They all got the hint. The woman before them was a rare beauty, the

kind they do not just stumble upon every day. To them, a fleeting moment with her was worth far more than any trinket, especially one that was a dime a dozen.

"Miss, do us the honor," one of the men said, his eyes greedily fixed on Amber's chest. "We're not the bad guys here. Just a little chat, a cup of tea, and the necklace is yours." He stepped forward, reaching for Amber's wrist. NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

However, before his hand could make contact...

Crack! The sound of a sharp slap cut through the air.

Alexander stood there indifferently, his hand leaving a trail of motion as the man spun away from the force of his strike. He turned his stern gaze on the onlookers.

"Try anything else, and it'll be the last thing you do."