Zelda turned to Franco with a look of disbelief. "All that food was for Calliope and her mutt! You said this club was hers, so why would she need to pay for a meal here?"


    "Mrs. Jewell, are you suggesting she wants a free meal?" Franco raised an eyebrow, phone in hand. "Our bosses here and, of course, she doesn''t pay. You all, however, are not. I heard today''s tab is on you, so it''s your responsibility to settle it."


    Zelda squinted her eyes, defiant. "We''re her family. Why should we pay?"


    Franco chuckled softly. "Family, huh? Really? Didn''t you all cut ties? It''s funny how you im to be family when it suits you, but be strangers when there''s nothing to gain."


    Zelda''s face turned sour, ring at Franco with fury.


    Franco, still holding his phone, continued, "Don''t want to pay? Well, don''t me me if I call the cops right now and invite the press over to witness just how shameless the Jewell family can be."


    Monty''s face went pale with worry. "No, Franco, we never said we wouldn''t pay!"


    "Then please head downstairs to settle the bill." Franco watched as Monty and the others reluctantly entered the elevator. He pulled out his phone and made a call.


    As soon as the elevator reached the ground floor, Monty and his group were met by a small entourage waiting for them. A few waitstaff and security guards stood there, watching them as if they were criminals.


    Feeling both furious and humiliated, Monty had little choice but toply.


    "This way, please," a smiling waiter directed them toward the payment counter.


    At the counter, the cashier announced the total price to Monty and hispanions.


    "What?" Monty eximed, utterly shocked. "We must''ve been served diamonds for it to be this expensive!"


    "Our club has its prices, and you did order the most expensive dishes on the menu," the cashier replied with a polite smile. "So, who will be settling the bill?"


    With trembling hands, Monty reluctantly handed over a credit card. He eyed the cashier, his emotions in turmoil.


    As the cashier took the card, Monty


    clung to it for a moment, unwilling to let go. The cashier gave a small


    smile and tugged the card from


    Monty''s grip with effort before


    proceeding with the transaction.


    Monty watched the card swipe through the machine, his heart aching with every second.


    Once the payment wasplete, they finally exited the club.


    At the door, the security guards bid them farewell, "We hope to see you again soon!"


    Monty grumbled under his breath, "Over my dead body! As if I''de back after this!"


    In the car, Monty couldn''t help but vent his frustrations.


    "How could it be that expensive? They''ve drained my ount dry! And yet, she still refuses to help... Half the shares and giving her full control of thepany? That''s basically losing everything!"


    Zelda muttered curses under her breath, while Horatio was busy on his phone, trying to verify if Calliope really owned the club.


    After the call, he waited for his friend to get back to him.


    "Horatio, can your friend really dig up some info?" Valerian inquired.


    "Yeah, he''s got quite thework. He should be able to find some leads," Horatio assured. "He promised to call back once he has something."