C2 Black Card

Zack gazed at his phone, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.

"The day I've been waiting for has finally arrived."

He was the scion of the illustrious Montgomery family, a dynasty of wealth and power.

Even Zack couldn't fathom the full extent of his family's riches.

Once, he had managed to squander 40 billion USD in a single go.

His father's reprimand afterward was etched in his memory: "You can lose money, but you must never lose the Montgomery family's face! I won't bother with a lecture. The time it takes to talk to you could've made me another 40 billion USD."

Those few words took mere seconds to say. Seconds in which his father could've earned another fortune.

The Montgomery family's wealth was beyond measure.

So vast, in fact, that even their accountants likely hadn't tallied the full extent of their assets, as the family's earnings per second were too colossal to compute.

Had Zack not been exiled from the family for a grievous error three years prior, he wouldn't be in this predicament.

During his three-year exile, Zack was barred from utilizing the family's influence, wealth, or even his own name. That's why he had kept his true identity under wraps.

Now, with the exile over, he reclaimed his status as the prodigal Montgomery heir, known for his lavish spending.

Zack stealthily returned to his room and retrieved an identity card and a black card from a hidden spot beneath his bed.

This wasn't just any black card—it was the Big Dipper Black Card, shrouded in mystique and prestige.

Reserved for the elite, its holders could swipe without limit and indulge in unparalleled privileges.

Juliet, his wife, had endured much hardship in their three years together. It was time for Zack to make amends.

Slipping the black card into his pocket, he finished tidying the dinnerware.

His mother-in-law lounged on the couch, idly cracking melon seeds. She commanded Zack with a haughty air, "Peel an apple for me!"

Resigned, Zack deftly peeled the apple and presented it to her.

"Mom, Juliet and I are heading out to a movie tonight. You'll need to take care of dinner."

Alison's brow furrowed as she fixed Zack with a disapproving glare. "You've got the gall to go to the movies? You're a big guy who can't even make a dime. You let my daughter foot the bill for your dates. Aren't you embarrassed?"

"I have no idea how you managed to charm Juliet into marrying you, but mark my words, if you don't find a job within three days, I'll see to it that Juliet divorces you, even if it kills me. You're not going to ruin her life!"

With a fierce scowl, Alison stormed back to her bedroom.

Alison had never had much respect for Zack. For three years, she'd been deriding him, hoping to drive him away.

She'd even broached the subject of divorce with Juliet, but Juliet staunchly refused. The reasons for her refusal were likely known only to Zack and Juliet themselves.

Heaving a sigh, Zack hailed a cab to the most bustling shopping mall in downtown Zelbert City, intent on picking out a gift for Juliet.

To Zack, who had been surrounded by luxury from a young age, the abundance of high-end goods in Zelbert City seemed as common as grains of sand. His standards for luxury were so high that what others couldn't procure with money was simply routine for him.

He paused in front of a boutique watch store, remembering how Juliet had admired a particular watch here not so long ago. The problem was, even the cheapest watch here was priced over 100,000 yuan, well beyond their means at the time.

Juliet worked in real estate sales, and on a good month, she could bring in thirty to forty thousand yuan. But her regular monthly salary was just over ten thousand yuan.

She was frugal, saving most of her earnings with the goal of buying an apartment to move out of her family's home, sparing Zack from their constant ridicule.

Zack stepped up to the counter and pointed to the watch Juliet had liked. "Could you show me that watch, please?"

Emily glanced at Zack's less-than-100-yuan outfit and sneered.

"Sir, the watches here start at 100,000 yuan. If you're not planning to buy, we don't allow trying them on."

Zack chuckled, "I'll buy it."

Emily scoffed and twisted her mouth, "I've seen plenty like you. You'll try on the watch, snap a photo for your WeChat Moments, pretending to be wealthy while trying to impress girls."

Zack pinched a black card between two fingers, cutting her off, "I'm paying now."

Emily's face registered shock, then disdain. "I'd advise against using your credit card just to show off. You'll be in trouble if you can't pay it back."

Suddenly, a woman in a business suit approached. Emily called out, "Manager!"

The manager's eyes widened at the sight of Zack's black card. In this upscale shopping area, her seasoned eye recognized the card instantly. "Good day, sir. I'm the manager here. You can call me Katrina. How may I assist you?"

Emily was dumbfounded by the manager's courteous and respectful demeanor. Their usual clientele were millionaires, yet she'd never seen the manager so deferential.

Zack gestured to the watch, "I'll take this one."

Katrina, facing the dashing Zack, felt a flutter in her heart. A person with a Big Dipper Black Card was surely wealthy and influential.

"If I could forge a connection with someone like him, I'd be set," she thought.

"Of course, sir," she said, passing the card to Emily. "Please, handle this quickly."

Katrina carefully packaged the watch herself. As she finished, Emily returned with the black card. Katrina accepted it, beaming at Zack and batting her eyelashes coquettishly. "Sir, is there anything else you need?"

Zack shook his head, "That's all."

He considered buying more lavish gifts for Juliet, but he now preferred a simpler, more modest life to his previous extravagance. He intended to keep his identity under wraps.

As Zack prepared to leave, Katrina stepped forward, "Sir, may I have your contact information? If there's any issue with the watch, we can get in touch for repairs."

Without a second thought, Zack agreed.

He grabbed a pen, casually jotted down his name and phone number on a scrap of paper, and then he walked away.

It was then that Emily, driven by curiosity, asked, "Ms. Katrina, he's dressed so plainly and even chose the cheapest watch. Why do you treat him with such reverence?"

With a knowing smile, Katrina looked at her and replied, "You simply lack experience. Just remember this: whenever he steps into our store, you must inform me right away."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Katrina's eyes.

She knew that once Emily discovered the prestige of Zack's identity, she would surely be intrigued. Emily was significantly younger than her, and if Emily set her sights on charming him, Katrina stood to lose out.