Chapter 190
Chapter 190
Frank stumbled backward several steps, instinctively putting distance between them.
If things go south, he needs to make it crystal clear he's not with Kane. No way he's getting dragged down with him!
Just then, the two security guards saw Kane not only refuse to move but actually darken his expression. Their tone turned even more vicious. "Looks like someone doesn't know their place! You dare cause trouble at the Sapphire Sky Hotel entrance? You've got a death wish!"
Kane's expression remained ice-cold. Too lazy to waste words on these bottom-feeders, he uttered a few clipped words. "Get your manager out here."
The two guards froze for a second, then burst into mocking laughter, growing even more arrogant.
"Fine, you just wait! I'd love to see what kind of big shot you can pull out of thin air today!"
One of the guards barked the warning, then immediately turned and rushed into the hotel to fetch the manager.
Frank completely panicked. He hurriedly tugged at Kane's sleeve in a hushed, urgent voice. "Kane! Just drop it! Let's not make trouble! We can find some regular hotel! There's no need to act tough here!"
Kane glanced sideways at him, voice calm. "Relax. It's fine."
Frank sighed helplessly, screaming internally: 'Fine?' You're just being ridiculously arrogant!
You think you can mess with the Sapphire Sky Hotel manager?
When the manager gets here, you're definitely getting your ass handed to you, and I'll end up humiliated right alongside you!
Before long, the guard returned with a woman in a sharp black suit—the hotel's lobby manager. She moved with brisk efficiency, her makeup flawless, her presence commanding. As the Sapphire Sky's lobby manager, she'd seen her share of power players and elites. Her standards were sky-high.
The moment she stepped outside, her eyes landed on Frank's disheveled appearance, then swept over Kane, who looked utterly unremarkable. A flicker of contempt crossed her gaze.
Before she could speak, Kane said flatly, "Marcus arranged my room."
The moment those words left his mouth, the manager stopped in her tracks. Her brow furrowed as she looked them both up and down repeatedly, suspicion written all over her face.
What kind of person was Marcus?
He was one of Harborview City's top-tier capital giants, one of the Sapphire Sky Hotel's behind-the-scenes partners at the highest level. His power was immense.
These two guys in front of her? One dressed plain and ordinary, completely unremarkable.
The other ragged and filthy, practically a beggar. How could they possibly have any connection to Marcus?
They were clearly just nobodies trying to ride some big shot's coattails!
The manager's expression turned cold. "Mr. Robinson isn't someone you can just name-drop. I need to verify this. If you're impersonating one of Mr. Robinson's associates to cause trouble, the consequences won't be something you can handle."
With that, she turned and walked toward the front desk, pulled out her phone, and prepared to verify their identities with Marcus.
Oddly enough, the call wouldn't go through. It kept showing as busy.
After several failed attempts, the manager completely lost her patience. She was convinced Kane and Frank were deliberately putting on an act.
She walked back out to the entrance, her eyes ice-cold. "I thought you were some big shot. Turns out you're just a couple of con artists who like to talk big!"
"Throwing around a powerful person's name, showing up with a beggar to mooch off a presidential suite—do you even think you're worthy?"
"I'm warning you—get out of here. Now!"
"If you keep impersonating elites around here, I'll call security to teach you both a lesson!"
The manager's voice was sharp and cutting.
She was absolutely certain Kane and Frank were frauds deliberately causing a scene.
Facing her insults, Kane's expression didn't change. He simply raised his phone and, right in front of everyone, dialed Marcus's number.
The call connected instantly. On the other end came Marcus's deeply respectful voice. "Mr. Lockwood! I'm so sorry—I was handling an urgent matter with the group just now. I apologize for keeping you waiting!"
Kane didn't waste a single word. His tone was cold and direct. "I'm at the Sapphire Sky Hotel entrance. Your people are abusing their authority, blocking someone I arranged from checking in, and publicly humiliating us. Come deal with it."
"I'll send someone immediately!"
Marcus's voice turned panicked. Without another word, he hung up and immediately dispatched someone to the hotel.
"He'll be here any minute," Kane said coolly to the manager.
The guards thought Kane was bluffing and moved to throw them out.
But the manager waved them off. "Fine. I'd love to see who you can actually get here!"
---
In barely two or three minutes, a high-end black SUV came speeding up and stopped smoothly in front of the hotel entrance.
Leopold Hamilton himself burst out of the vehicle, his face pale, his steps frantic. He practically ran full-tilt into the hotel lobby.
The two guards at the door and the arrogant lobby manager who'd been so full of herself moments ago saw who'd arrived. Their bodies went rigid. They immediately straightened up and rushed forward to greet him.
The manager plastered on a fawning smile, just about to report. "Mr. Hamilton, what brings you here? There are two frauds here—"
Slap!
A sharp, resounding crack exploded through the air!
Leopold's fury was palpable. He backhanded her with a vicious slap, sending the lobby manager staggering and crashing to the floor. Her hair flew everywhere, and her cheek instantly swelled and turned bright red.
"Useless! Absolutely useless!"
Leopold's eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at the woman on the ground and roared, "Who gave you the nerve! How dare you disrespect and humiliate Mr. Lockwood like this?!"
"This is the Sapphire Sky Hotel's most distinguished VIP guest, a presidential suite reservation I personally arranged and flagged! Are you blind?!"
Boom!
That one sentence hit like a thunderclap.
The lobby manager, sprawled on the floor, went completely rigid. Her pupils contracted. Her mind went blank.
Only now did she fully understand!
This seemingly ordinary man she'd mocked and insulted—Kane—wasn't some fraud at all!
He was a true power player, someone so influential that even Leopold from headquarters had to bow and scrape before him!
And she had just spent the last several minutes humiliating him. She'd basically signed her own death warrant.
Absolute terror consumed her. She scrambled up from the floor on her hands and knees, then dropped heavily to her knees in front of Kane, begging desperately.
"Sir! I was wrong! I was blind! Please, please have mercy on me!"
Leopold also immediately bowed deeply, his posture humble to the extreme, his face full of panic as he apologized.
"Mr. Lockwood, this is my failure in management. My staff didn't know their place and offended you. I'm offering you my sincerest apologies! I take full responsibility!"
Standing off to the side, Frank was completely stunned. He stood frozen in place, his eyes filled with utter shock and disbelief.
He'd lived half his life. He knew exactly what kind of weight Leopold carried.
In the past, when core members of Harborview City's three major families accidentally offended Leopold, they had to personally show up at his door, apologize profusely, and grovel—they wouldn't dare act arrogant in the slightest.
But now, this top-tier power player—someone even wealthy second-generation heirs had to defer to—was bowing before Kane, apologizing humbly, trembling with fear!
Frank blinked hard, his mind reeling.
This wasn't a trick of the eyes. This was real!
It has to be because of Isabelle!
It has to be that Isabelle's now worth billions, so powerful that even city officials and top-tier elites have to show her respect!
These people aren't showing deference to Kane—they're doing it out of respect for Isabelle!
The moment that thought hit him, Frank felt even more crushing regret.
How stupid was he back then?!
He'd pushed Isabelle away with his own hands. He'd destroyed a lifetime of wealth and privilege with his own hands!