Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 69: Vincenzo sneered. "Why would I be afraid? My reputation is spotless. These bottles are known around the world. Any one of them costs more than you could ever hope to pay. If it turns out you're wrong and I end up taking a loss, how exactly do you plan to make it right?"

"Yeah, you wouldn't be able to afford even one bottle here if you sold off everything you own!" Denny shouted from the side. "If you ask me, you ought to leave a palm behind and walk away with your life. Otherwise, when you end up dead, it'll be too late for regrets!"

Without a word, Maia reached into her bag and placed a matte black card on the counter. The card was unassuming except for the gold-embossed iris emblem glinting under the lights.

Vincenzo leaned closer, and the second he caught sight of the symbol, his face shifted. The look he now gave Maia was very different.

Maia met his gaze without blinking. "If I'm wrong, I'll pay for every bottle you say I damaged. Besides, you can cut off my palm on the spot in person if you want. Fair enough?"

For the first time, Vincenzo hesitated. His gaze flickered toward the towering shelves of bottles he'd always been so sure of. Was it possible? Could there actually be counterfeits in his business?

Before he could speak, Denny interjected. "Boss, don't fall for it! She's bluffing. Look at her! How could she afford anything here? We should just deal with her like we always do. Cut her palm off and throw her out. No need to waste time."

Still, Vincenzo stayed silent. Someone holding a card like that wasn't the type to bluff.

But a young woman like her, casually claiming she could authenticate top-tier liquor?

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"Quite the lively night at The Underbarrel, wouldn't you say?"

A new voice cut through the air, crisp and sure, carrying a hint of teasing amusement.

The crowd turned toward the sound, instinctively stepping aside to clear a path.

"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Payne," said Vincenzo, his eyebrows lifting in genuine surprise as he caught sight of the man. Without wasting a second, he crossed the room to meet him.

There was no mistaking Maxwell Payne. In the underworld, he was the hand pulling all the strings, whether the business was clean or crawling with dirt. Still, whispers told a different story. Some claimed there was a phantom even Maxwell bowed to, but no one had ever caught so much as a glimpse of this hidden figure.

Taking his time, Maxwell settled into the nearest chair, the leather creaking under his weight. Across the room, a woman held his stare with an icy calmness that almost made him chuckle.

Was this the woman Chris married? The one who just got out of prison? And now she actually dared to show up at the black market all by herself? Worse still, she even had the gall to cause a scene at The Underbarrel. She was really creating a mess for Chris.

To be honest, Maxwell figured Chris must have completely lost his mind. He once introduced his sister to Chris, hoping they could be together. However, he wouldn't even spare a second glance at her, yet somehow he wound up tying himself to a woman like Maia?

Clicking his tongue, Maxwell leaned back, unimpressed.

Meanwhile, across the street, Chris huddled inside a small building, squinting through a dusty window to catch every detail of the brewing storm. Honestly, if Chris hadn't begged for backup, Maxwell wouldn't have bothered showing up. Squinting slightly, Maxwell shifted his gaze toward Vincenzo. "With entertainment like this, you think I could just sit it out, Mr. Casadei?"

Grinning as if things were finally looking up, Vincenzo clapped his hands together. "Perfect timing, Mr. Payne. The young lady wants to authenticate some liquor. Looks like fate picked the right man for the job."

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