"Money has never made man happy, nor will it; there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness," Alexander chuckled as he read it off his social media feed.
"Whoever came up with that must have been crazy rich or just plain crazy," he thought as he rose to his feet.
He was standing at the top balcony of the Lockwood Family Mansion.
"Money does make a man happy, crazy money that is; the question is, do men in their innate evil nature deserve such happiness?" he concluded.
After taking a few more moments to admire the blend of sky and city lights, Alexander headed back inside.
With his head bent over his phone scrolling, he bumped into someone.
It wasn't just someone he had bumped into; it was Jacob Harrington, King of the Diamond Enterprise, accompanied by his assistant, Silvia, and his bodyguard
"My apologies," he said as he tried to wipe the champagne he had spilled on Jacob Harrington's suit.
"It's fine," Jacob replied.
In a split second of retaliation, Jacob's bodyguard sent a heavy punch through Alexander's stomach.
He looked down at Alexander crunching low, with his hands against his stomach.
Judging from his under-classed suit and the cracked screen of his outdated android, the bodyguard concluded that Alexander was poor and under-classed for this event, so he was either a servant at the event or the driver to one of the event's guests.
"You just spilled a drink of my boss right in front of me and you think an apology is going to cut it?" He roared at Alexander
Standing back straight, Alexander rolled his eyes. 'Well, so much for trying to be polite,' he murmured to himself.
"'Your apology' my ass, how about I teach you some manners" the bodyguard said, cracking his knuckles
"Cool it tough guy" Jacob hushed him.
"Are you alright?" he asked Alexander.
"Apologies for my bodyguard, he sometimes gets too into his job"
"It's alright," Alexander rearranged his composure and made for the exit.
"Cool watch by the way," he said as he walked past them unfazed.
'Cool Watch?' Silvia, Jacob's assistant repeated to herself in shock.
'Did that pauper just refer to a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime with a price tag of thirty-one million US dollars as a nice watch?' she thought to herself.
"Silvia, who the hell is he?" Jacob asked his assistant, his curiosity piqued.
"His name is Alexander Chase of the Lockwood Family."
"The Lockwood Family?" Jacob asked in disbelief.
"Yes, sir. Although he is a mere son-in-law with no real significance to the Lockwood Family whatsoever. A pauper with no self-accomplishment and not a single dollar to his name, who somehow got lucky enough to get married into the Lockwood Family."
"I see, so he is the infamous son-in-law," Jacob said. "Did you notice anything off about him?" he asked.
"No, sir. Except for the fact that even in a place as luxurious as this, he still managed to smell like poverty," His bodyguard chipped in reply.
"Right. Silvia keep an eye on him," Jacob instructed.
"Are you certain, sir? It seems like a waste of resources. As far as we know, his rank in the Lockwood family is lower than that of a servant."
"Perhaps," Jacob replied.
His reasoning didn't have enough validation, but still, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Alexander.
As they watched at a distance, Jacob's bodyguard could feel a stinging pain on his wrist. He looked to check and it appeared to be swollen. When? How? He queried himself, as his mind flashed back to when he attacked Alexander.
Alexander had lowered his elbow to deflect the force of the punch, he thought that to be mere instinct, a sharp one for a fact, but could Alexander have used that split second to attack him back, by using his elbow to block the punch, whilst simultaneously striking him by the wrist with the same elbow… he asked himself.
'But that would be impossible, the precision and timing.... it must be a sheer coincidence' he coulded to himself. Eiher way, he was going to get him back for it
.....
Tonight was the 70th Birthday Banquet of Lady Charlotte Lockwood, Head of the Lockwood Family. The news of Lady Charlotte Lockwood's 70th birthday spread swiftly throughout the Pantheon Valley, eliciting a widespread response from family members and well-wishers alike.
From distant corners of the valley, family members and acquaintances converged upon the grand Lockwood Family Mansion, eager to join in the festivities and pay tribute to the esteemed matriarch.
The mansion was adorned with decorative lights and illuminants, adding to the extravagant ambiance of the occasion.
Alexander returned to the main event hall, back to his seat next to his wife Seraphina Lockwood.
"Where have you been?" she asked in a low voice, to avoid drawing any attention.
"I went to get some air."
"The air conditioners weren't good enough for you?" she scorned. "We'll talk about this later; they are about to start the gift-giving now."
"Grandma, as a passionate art enthusiast, I've chosen this exquisite masterpiece for you. It's an original painting by the renowned artist, Vincent van Gogh. This piece, titled 'Starry Night,' is a true treasure, valued at five hundred thousand dollars."
"Grandma, knowing your passion for fine craftsmanship and luxury, I wanted to present you with this exceptional timepiece. This limited edition Patek Philippe watch is crafted with the finest materials and precision engineering. It's valued at seven hundred thousand dollars, a testament to its rarity and quality."
"Grandma, I know how passionate you are about fine jewelry. This necklace I got for you is truly exceptional. Crafted from rare Colombian emeralds and flawless diamonds, it's valued at nine hundred thousand dollars."
Looking at the gracious gifts in front of her, Lady Lockwood laughed and smiled heartily. The entire ambiance was harmonious and happy. Her children, grandchildren, and their spouses kept going in turns to hand her their luxurious gifts.
As everyone knew, Lady Lockwood liked antiques, and she loved the gifts, but compared to Daniel's gift, all other gifts looked much plainer in comparison.
Daniel's gift made everyone in the audience pay full attention. Everyone had heard that Daniel would present a momentous gift for Lady Lockwood's birthday. After all, he was her favorite!
Daniel held a box, then tucked his hair before walking to the center and bowing to Lady Lockwood. No one cared about what he said. Their sole focus was the box in his hand.
The box was not that big, but it was crafted entirely from the highest quality sapphire crystal. So luxurious! A gift box made of pure crystal glass.
Daniel gave a lengthy speech before he finally got the point and opened the box.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my lovely grandma, I present you The Blue Moon Diamond.
The "Blue Moon Diamond" is one of the rarest and most extraordinary diamonds in the world. This remarkable gemstone is a vivid blue color, which is incredibly unusual in the diamond world. What sets the Blue Moon Diamond apart is not only its mesmerizing color but also its exceptional size and purity. The diamond weighs an astounding 12.03 carats, making it an incredibly rare find. Moreover, it boasts exceptional clarity, with very few internal imperfections, further enhancing its value and beauty.
The name "Blue Moon" reflects both the extraordinary color of the diamond and the rarity of such a find. It is a fitting name for a gemstone that is as rare and captivating as a blue moon itself. Its uniqueness and allure have cemented its status as one of the most coveted diamonds in the world, and when it was unveiled in 2014, the Blue Moon Diamond was estimated to be worth a staggering $48.5 million." He preached on.
Daniel's gift was nothing short of spectacular; everyone in the crowd was stunned by the beauty of the jewel, everyone except Alexander.
As Daniel proudly unveiled the Blue Moon Diamond to the expectant crowd, a collective gasp echoed through the room.
The gem sparkled under the soft glow of the chandeliers, its vivid blue hue casting an enchanting aura that seemed to captivate everyone present.
Lady Lockwood's eyes widened in delight, her hand instinctively reaching out to touch the jewel, only to be stopped short by the glass case protecting it.
"Lady, I, Daniel Lockwood, hereby wish you a long and prosperous life!" Daniel grinned.
But amidst the awe and admiration that filled the room, Alexander remained notably unmoved. He couldn't understand the cause of the awe in everyone's eyes, as this blue diamond was a clear fake.
"How can they all not tell that it was an obvious fake?" he said to his wife.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Look closely," Alexander urged, gesturing towards the gem with a knowing expression.
"Notice how the hue lacks the depth and richness characteristic of a genuine Blue Moon Diamond. And the clarity? Well, let's just say it leaves out much to be desired."
At that moment, Daniel noticed Alexander's unimpressed look and eye roll of displeasing.
"Alexander, is there anything you would like to say," he asked, sarcastically, knowing whatever he said would be used against him.
For a brief moment, all eyes were on Alexander.
Alexander looked around and rolled his eyes again,
"Your Blue Moon Diamond, It's a fake."
"Everyone stared at Alexander bewildered and surprised.
"You? What the hell are you talking about?" Daniel bluffed and shouted.
Of course, he knew that the Blue Diamond was a fake, but no one from the Lockwood had ever seen the real one before, therefore no one present could tell the genuine product from the counterfeit one, at least so he thought. Alexander's comment about his gift being fake only served to increase Daniel's anxieties.
"Quit your nonsense, Alexander," Seraphina neighed him lightly.
Alexander would be made a victim if he provoked Daniel.
"And can you prove your outrageous claim" Lady Lockwood..
"Yes, I can" Alexander replied.
Alexander walked to the blue diamond, took it out from the glass, and picked it up. The entire hall watched in silence, suspense hung in the air.
Alexander inspected the gem a bit, he lifted it to the sky and smashed it to the ground.